Yajilin ヤジリン
Yajilin (Arrow Ring) combines arrow clues (counting black cells) with loop logic. Each clue counts black cells in a direction; draw a loop through all non-clue, non-black cells. Combines counting and loop constraints.
Rules
Clue cells show a number and arrow. "0→" means no black cells in that direction—those cells must be loop. Black cells: no two adjacent; the loop does not pass through them. Loop: single, closed, orthogonal; visits every non-clue, non-black cell. Solve by logic; unique solution. Process 0-arrows first; the no-adjacent-blacks rule propagates constraints. Combines arrow-counting with loop logic.
History
Yajilin appeared in Nikoli Vol. 86 in June 1999. The name combines yajirushi (arrow) and rinku (link). It uniquely combines two constraint types: arrow clues that count black cells, and loop logic. Beloved for this hybrid design. Available on Nikoli.com, Puzzle-Nonograms.com, and Simon Tatham's Portable Puzzle Collection. Niche but dedicated following.
Tips for beginners
Process 0-arrows first—those cells cannot be black. When a black cell is placed, mark orthogonally adjacent cells as loop (no-adjacent-blacks). Loop must be single ring—watch for early closure.
Cultural context
Nikoli 1999; beloved for combining two constraint systems; niche but dedicated following. Yajilin (Arrow Ring) rewards solvers who can track both the loop path and the black-cell constraints. The hybrid design makes it one of the more challenging Nikoli puzzles; fans of Masyu and Slitherlink often enjoy Yajilin for its similar loop logic with an added counting element.
Play online
Play at Nikoli.com (nikoli.co.jp/en), Puzzle-Nonograms.com, Simon Tatham's Portable Puzzle Collection. Mobile: Nikoli puzzle apps include Yajilin.
Where to Buy or Play
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- 📖 Yajilin Puzzle Book (Nikoli) Official Nikoli yajilin collection
- 📱 Play Yajilin free online (puzzle-yajilin.com) Free daily Yajilin puzzles with multiple difficulty levels