How to play Fences

Learn the rules of Fences, the loop logic puzzle: draw one closed loop between the dots so every number counts its sides. Controls, tips and difficulty levels.

Play Fences

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Fences is a loop puzzle played on a grid of dots. Your job is to join the dots into a single closed fence, using the numbers as clues to where it runs.

The rules

Draw fence between neighboring dots, straight across or straight down, so that it forms one closed loop. The loop can’t branch, cross itself or have loose ends, and there can only be one.

Some squares hold a number from 0 to 3. It tells you exactly how many of that square’s four sides are part of the fence. Squares without a number can have any number of sides fenced.

Drawing the fence

Tap between two dots to put fence there. Tap again to mark it with an ×, a note that fence can’t go there, and once more to clear it.
Drag along the dots to draw several pieces in one go. Start a drag on existing fence to rub it out instead.
Undo takes back your last change. A whole drag counts as one change.
On a keyboard, arrow keys move between dots, Shift+arrow draws fence and follows it, X then an arrow marks an ×, H gives a hint and Ctrl or ⌘+Z undoes.

Checking your work

A number turns green when it has exactly its count of fence, and red when it has too many, or so many ×s it can no longer be reached.
A dot turns red where fence branches, or where a line dead-ends with every way on crossed out. A loop that closes while other fence is left outside it turns red too.
Hint fixes a mistake if you have one, otherwise adds a piece that follows from what’s already on the board.
The puzzle is solved as soon as your fence is one loop that meets every number.

Tips for solving

Start with the 0s: none of their sides can be fence, so cross all four out.
Every dot has either no fence or exactly two pieces. If a line reaches a dot with only one way on, it must go that way.
A 3 in a corner of the board always uses both of its outside sides.
Two 3s side by side share fence on the side between them and on both of their outer sides.
Mark ×s freely. Ruling out edges is often what reveals the next piece of the loop.

Difficulty levels

Easy: a 5×5 grid with plenty of numbers, solvable by counting alone.
Normal: a 7×7 grid that sometimes needs a quick “what if” to see the next step.
Hard: a 10×10 grid with fewer numbers and deeper logic.
Every puzzle is freshly made and has exactly one answer, and your best time is kept for each level.

Learn more

How to play Fences: the full rules All guides