How to Play

PuzzleWalker turns geographic maps into interactive puzzles. Your goal is simple: place every puzzle piece in its correct target location on the map.

How the Puzzle Works

When you start a puzzle, you will see a map with target locations and a piece tray containing the puzzle pieces you need to place.

Select a puzzle piece, move it to the map, and place it in its correct target location. As you play, PuzzleWalker keeps track of your progress, elapsed time, attempts, and hints used.

Map — the main playing area containing the target locations.
Piece Tray — the area containing the puzzle pieces that have not yet been placed.
Progress Bar — shows how much of the puzzle you have completed.
Timer — shows your elapsed time.
Attempts — shows your placement attempts.
Hints — shows the number of hints you have used.

Play Mode

PuzzleWalker offers two ways to play. Choose the play mode that suits you when you start the puzzle.

Normal Mode

Play with the preview available to help you understand the completed puzzle and identify where pieces belong.

Challenge Mode

Play without the preview for a more challenging experience.

Placing Puzzle Pieces

To place a puzzle piece:

Find a puzzle piece in the piece tray.
Drag the piece onto the map.
Position it over its correct target location.
Release the piece to place it.

If the piece is placed correctly, it stays on the map and your progress increases.

If the placement is incorrect, the piece returns to the piece tray so you can try again.

Continue placing pieces until all target locations have been correctly filled.

Using the Map and Preview

The map is the main playing area where you place your puzzle pieces.

When available, the preview provides a view of the completed puzzle and can help you understand where pieces belong. You can show or hide the preview during play.

In Normal Mode, the preview is available. In Challenge Mode, the preview is not available.

Use Reset if you want to restart the puzzle and begin again.

Attempts, Hints, and Progress

PuzzleWalker keeps track of several aspects of your performance while you play.

Progress — shows how many pieces you have correctly placed out of the total.
Timer — shows how much time has elapsed.
Attempts — counts your attempts to place puzzle pieces.
Hints — shows the number of hints you have used.

Use Hint when you need assistance. Hints used during the puzzle are included in your final result.

Completing a Puzzle

A puzzle is completed when all puzzle pieces have been correctly placed .

After completing the puzzle, you will see your result, including information such as:

Completion time
Attempts
Hints used
Score
Star rating

You can review your performance, share your result, or play again to try to improve your score and rating.

Score, Rating, and Medals

Your completed puzzle receives a score and a star rating. Your performance reflects your completion time, failed placement attempts, and hints used.

How Your Score Is Calculated

PuzzleWalker starts your score at 5,000 points. Points are then deducted based on your performance during the puzzle.

Time: 1 point is deducted for each second taken to complete the puzzle.
Failed attempts: 15 points are deducted for each unsuccessful placement attempt.
Hints: 100 points are deducted for each hint used.

Your score cannot fall below 0 points.

In simple terms, the fewer unnecessary attempts and hints you use, and the faster you complete the puzzle, the higher your score can be.

How to Improve Your Score

Want to improve your score? Focus on solving the puzzle accurately and efficiently.

Work efficiently. A shorter completion time means fewer points are deducted for time.
Place pieces carefully. Avoid unsuccessful placements because failed attempts reduce your score.
Use hints only when needed. Each hint has a score cost, so try to solve pieces yourself when possible.
Learn from previous attempts. Replaying a puzzle can help you become faster and more accurate.
Practice with Normal Mode. The preview can help you become familiar with the puzzle before taking on Challenge Mode.

The best results come from balancing speed, accuracy, and efficient use of hints .

Star Rating

Your score determines your star rating:

5 Stars — 4,900 points or more (Master Cartographer)
4 Stars — 4,750–4,899 points (Excellent)
3 Stars — 4,500–4,749 points (Good)
2 Stars — 4,250–4,499 points (Fair)
1 Star — below 4,000–4249 points (Keep Practicing)

Medals

A 5-star rating together with a score of at least 4,900 points qualifies you for a medal.

🥈 Silver Medal — earned by achieving the medal requirement in Normal Mode.
🥇 Gold Medal — earned by achieving the medal requirement in Challenge Mode.

For each map, you can achieve one Silver Medal and one Gold Medal. Replaying the map allows you to improve your score and result, but you cannot earn additional medals of the same type for that map.

If you are signed in, your total number of Silver Medals and Gold Medals is displayed beside your profile name at the top-right corner of the page.

The medal counts show how many maps you have successfully completed with each medal.

Puzzle Results and Favorites

When you are signed in, you can keep track of the puzzles you have completed and the puzzles you want to play again.

Solved Puzzles

Your completed puzzles are available through your player profile.

Click your profile name at the top of the page to access your solved puzzle list and review your completed results.

Favorite Puzzles

Found a puzzle you want to play again later? Add it to your favorites using the heart symbol on the puzzle page.

Click the heart to add the puzzle to your favorite puzzles list. Click it again to remove the puzzle from your favorites.

Your favorite puzzles are accessible from your player profile. Click your profile name at the top of the page to view your favorite puzzle list.