What is Shaple?
Shaple is a short shape-matching puzzle created by Ravi Parikh. Each round displays one large reference shape at the top, rendered in perspective with distinct colours and patterns on each face, and three smaller candidate shapes below. The task is to identify which candidate matches the reference shape by form alone, ignoring colour, pattern, size, and rotation. The game consists of five rounds with no scoring, no timer, and no browser storage.
How to play Shaple
Look at the three-dimensional reference shape at the top, including the form of each face, its color, and its pattern. Compare it with the three shapes below and choose the one with the same underlying geometry. Ignore differences in color, pattern, size, and viewing angle.
The “shapes left” counter starts at five and drops after each selection. Complete all five rounds. The page contains one set of puzzles and has no replay or archive function.
Colour, pattern, size, and rotation are deliberately randomised across every candidate to force you to isolate form from decoration. The reference and its match share the same three-dimensional structure but appear completely different in every other visual property. Train yourself to mentally strip away surface attributes and hold only the geometric skeleton in view. If two candidates feel equally plausible, recheck which faces and angles define the reference shape rather than relying on colour or pattern familiarity.
Tips for accurate matching
Focus on face count and angle relationships rather than overall silhouette. Two shapes may look similar from one perspective but differ in how their faces connect or tilt. Rotate the shape mentally to confirm edge alignment before committing your choice.
The page offers no second attempts, no feedback per round, and no stored history. Each selection is final, so take a moment to verify your reasoning before tapping. The game's brevity rewards careful judgment over speed.