What is Rotato?
Rotato is a number grid puzzle with a single move type. The goal is to arrange tiles into numerical order by rotating 2×2 blocks a quarter turn at a time. Each rotation shifts four tiles one corner around the block. The game offers four difficulty levels—Easy, Medium, Hard, and Devilish—and measures performance against a benchmark called Par.
How to play Rotato
- Select a difficulty level from the four chips under the title.
- Start the daily board using the New Game control.
- Click any 2×2 block to rotate it clockwise or counterclockwise by one quarter turn.
- Continue rotating blocks until all numbers read in order from left to right, top to bottom.
- Track your move count against Par to see how efficiently you solved the puzzle.
Why a single move type changes the puzzle
A puzzle with only one legal move makes timing the central challenge. Each rotation affects four tiles at once, so no piece moves by itself. Progress often means undoing an earlier move to put tiles in the right positions. Par gives you a target score, turning completion into a scored challenge.
Feedback during play
The page displays your move count alongside Par as you solve. The site's notes say that correctly placed tiles turn green, and the counter stays green while you remain under Par. This feedback shows your correctness and efficiency during the solve rather than only at the end.
Difficulty modes
Easy
The first of the four difficulty chips.
Medium
The site's notes identify it with a 4×4 grid.
Hard
The third difficulty option. The notes mention 5×5 and 6×6 grids without specifying which one is used for Hard.
Devilish
The fourth and highest difficulty level.
Strategy for efficient solutions
Work row by row from the top. The site's notes emphasize that scattered repairs undo each other because every rotation can reach back into rows you already completed. Once the top row is correct, defend it by choosing rotations that do not disturb it.
Consider both rotation directions. A tile one corner from its target reaches home in a single clockwise or counterclockwise turn. Count which direction is shorter and choose accordingly.
Set up complex moves in advance. When a useful rotation would break an already placed tile, temporarily move that tile out of the affected block, perform the rotation, then restore it. Interior tiles overlap up to four 2×2 blocks, giving you multiple setup options.
Common questions
Is Par a limit on my moves?
No. The site's notes contrast beating Par with merely finishing, making Par a benchmark rather than a hard cap. You can exceed Par and still complete the puzzle.
Does the grid get bigger as difficulty increases?
Size is part of the difficulty scaling. Medium uses a 4×4 grid, and the notes mention 5×5 and 6×6 boards for higher levels, though the exact mapping to Hard and Devilish is not specified in the interface.