Skyscrapers
A Latin square read from the edges — each clue counts the buildings you can see from that side.
How to play Skyscrapers
Skyscrapers is a Latin-square puzzle with a view. Fill the grid so every row and column contains the numbers 1 to N exactly once, just like Sudoku without the boxes. Each number is the height of a building in that cell.
The numbers around the edge are the clues. A clue tells you how many buildings are visible when you look along that row or column from that side. A taller building blocks every shorter building behind it, so a clue of 1 means the tallest building (N) is nearest you, and a clue of N means the buildings rise steadily 1, 2, 3… away from you. Tap a cell, then tap a number to place it.
Solving tips
- The corners of the range are gifts. A clue of 1 forces the tallest building right against that edge. A clue of N forces a perfect ascending run.
- A clue of 2 next to a big number. If a side clue is 2, the tallest building is somewhere behind exactly one shorter one — often enough to place N once you know the row.
- Count from both ends. Each line has a clue on each side (when shown). The two visibility counts together pin down far more than either alone.
- Fall back on the Latin rule. Once a height is placed, it's gone from the rest of its row and column — combine that with the sight-lines to finish.
Why Skyscrapers is satisfying
Skyscrapers turns a plain Latin square into a spatial puzzle: you're not just avoiding repeats, you're reasoning about sight-lines and what hides what. It's pure deduction with a vivid mental picture, and it pairs naturally with Futoshiki — both take the Sudoku idea and swap the boxes for a different, cleaner kind of clue.
Frequently asked questions
Is Skyscrapers free here?
Yes, completely free with no sign-up. It runs in your browser and your best time is saved on your device.
What exactly does an edge number mean?
It's how many buildings you can see looking along that line from that side. Taller buildings hide shorter ones behind them, so you only ever count the ones that stick up above everything in front.
Why are some cells already filled in?
On the larger grids the edge clues alone don't always pin down a single answer, so a few starting heights are given. Every puzzle still has exactly one solution.
Does every puzzle have one solution?
Yes. Each board is generated and verified to have exactly one solution, reachable by logic alone.