Bulbs light up lines
A bulb shines across its row and column, lighting open squares until a black wall blocks the beam.
A cozy little Light Up puzzle
A little light.
A lot of logic.
Meet Akari: a satisfying grid puzzle where every bulb has a job. Light up each open space, keep the bulbs from seeing each other, and let the clues lead the way.
Looking for an akari puzzle online? GridPaw makes it easy to settle in and play a round whenever you have a few minutes.
Free to play. No sign-up. Just you and the grid.
THE LIGHT-UP LOGIC
0
0
0
Think it through, then let it glow.
purr-fectly puzzling
A clever grid, no guesswork required
Free to play, no account needed
One bulb at a time
First things first
How does Akari work?
Akari is also called Light Up. Place light bulbs on the white squares to illuminate the board. Three simple rules keep every puzzle fair.
No bulbs in sight
Two bulbs can’t see each other. Don’t place them in the same unobstructed row or column.
Numbered walls count
A number tells you exactly how many bulbs must touch that wall’s sides—up, down, left, or right. Diagonals don’t count.
Your goal: light every open square while following all three rules. If a square still looks dark, there’s a clue you haven’t used yet.
Want to see the rules in action? Play the Light Up puzzle on GridPaw and give your first board a try.
Three tiny nudges
Beginner tips that really help
No need to rush. A quick scan before placing a bulb can save you a lot of backtracking.
- 1
Start with the numbered walls
A 0 means no bulbs beside it; a 4 means all four side-adjacent squares need bulbs. Tricky 1s and 3s can narrow things down, too.
- 2
Check each bulb’s line of sight
Before you place one, scan along its row and column up to the next wall. If another bulb is in that clear line, choose a different square.
- 3
Hunt for squares still in the dark
After placing a bulb, look at what it lights. Then focus on the uncovered spots—especially edges and corners—and find a bulb position that reaches them without breaking a clue.
Your next little brain break
Ready to light things up?
Whether you call it an Akari game or a Light Up puzzle, the fun is in finding that one clever placement. Start with a fresh grid—no fee, no sign-up, no fuss.
Play Akari online