Rules and symbols
How to play Patches Game
Draw a rectangle around every clue, match its area, and leave no empty cells. That is the whole foundation. The interesting part is working out which rectangle belongs where.
The goal of a board
A Patches.cafe board is divided into square cells. Some cells contain numbered clues. Each clue belongs to exactly one rectangular patch, and the area of that patch must equal the number. A 4 can be a 2 by 2 square, a strip four cells wide, or a strip four cells tall unless another symbol narrows the choice.
Your finished patches must cover every playable cell. Ordinary patches cannot overlap, and one patch cannot contain two clues. If the board still has a hole, a clue without a patch, or two regions competing for the same cell, it is not finished yet.
How to draw a patch
Press or click one cell, then drag to another cell. The game previews the rectangle between those two points. Release when the rectangle contains one clue and has the required area. You can begin on the numbered cell or pass through it while dragging, which is helpful when a clue sits in the middle of a long strip.
- Choose a clue with a limited amount of space around it.
- Count the factor pairs of its number. For 6, the basic rectangle sizes are 1 by 6 and 2 by 3, with either orientation where the clue allows it.
- Check that your candidate does not contain another clue or cut off a neighbouring one.
- Drag the rectangle and release. If it is valid, the fabric stays in place.
Undo removes the most recent patch. Clear empties the board. A hint spends one hint token and places a correct patch, so it is best saved for a position where several choices still look plausible.
What every special clue means
Gold square
The patch must be square. A gold 4 is 2 by 2. A gold 9 is 3 by 3. A gold 6 cannot occur because six cells do not make a square.
Hidden number
The area is concealed. Read the remaining space, nearby clues, and the board total to infer how large the patch must be.
Linked clues
Clues carrying the same letter need patches with the same width and height. Their positions may differ, but their shapes must match.
Directional clue
A horizontal arrow needs a patch wider than it is tall. A vertical arrow needs one taller than it is wide.
Fixed patch
This fabric is already sewn down. Treat it as solved space and plan the remaining rectangles around its border.
Double layer
The marked cells need two patches passing through them. This is the deliberate exception to the usual no overlap rule.
Coffee button
A button blocks its cell. Patches must go around it, even when a large clue seems to point straight through.
Coffee stain
The stain hides a clue at first. Complete a patch touching it by an edge to wipe it clean and reveal the information underneath.
Mouse, touch, and phone controls
Mouse and trackpad players press, drag, and release. On a phone, one quick touch is enough for a one cell patch, while a drag creates a larger rectangle. You do not need to hold a numbered 1. The board prevents the page from scrolling while a patch is being drawn, then returns normal touch behaviour when the gesture ends.
The phone vibration switch is separate from music and game sounds. Turning vibration off leaves the phone icon visible in a muted state, so you can still find the setting. Music also has its own switch. The menu theme and gameplay playlist stop together, while clicks and success sounds remain controlled by the speaker button.
Three ways to play
Campaign
Work through 1,000 levels divided into chapters. New symbols appear gradually, so the campaign doubles as a long tutorial. Progress, stars, settings, and achievements remain in localStorage on the current browser.
Espresso Blitz
Solve boards against a short clock. A completed board adds points and a little more time. The quicker music is intentional; Blitz is the mode for decisions made before the coffee cools.
Perfectionist
The board gives you a limited number of moves. A correct plan matters more than rapid dragging. Undo restores a move, but a sequence of guesses can still leave you with nothing useful to place.
Level editor
Draw the completed patch layout instead of the clues. Once every cell is covered, the editor generates a playable puzzle and a share code. Anyone with the code can import the board without creating an account.
Common questions
Do I need an account?
Why did my progress disappear?
Can a patch contain more than one number?
Why are two patches allowed to overlap?
Does a number 1 need a long press on mobile?
How can I report a broken level?
Try the rules on a real board
The first campaign levels keep the symbols simple. You will meet the stranger clues after the basic rectangle logic starts to feel natural.
Start playing