Start a game
Choose Play classic for the standard set, or Play challenge to use the rule shown in the opening story. If you left today’s set unfinished on this device, Resume continues it on the same board.
published
Rune Unlock arrow puzzle guide
Slide carved runes off the board the way their arrows point and clear five daily boards with as few mistakes as you can.
Five daily boards · Stars by mistakes: 2 or fewer for three, 6 or fewer for twoFree · No account needed
Tap carved rune stones to slide them off the board the way their arrows point. Clear five daily boards from 4×4 to 7×7 with as few mistakes as you can.
How to play
- Every rune shows an arrow: up, down, left or right. Tap a rune and it tries to slide that way to the edge of the board.
- If nothing stands between the rune and the edge in that direction, it slides off the board. If any rune is in the way, the tapped rune bumps back, the blocker shakes and you lose a heart.
- Each board starts with three hearts. Lose them all and that board starts again with every rune back and full hearts. Your mistakes still count.
- Long runes cover two or three cells and only slide along their length. They first appear on the third board.
- A Classic set is five boards that grow from 4×4 to 7×7. Every board can be cleared, and clearing any rune that can slide only opens more paths, so there is never a wrong order, only blocked taps.
- The five boards come from the UTC date and the selected rule when you start: everyone using the same rule gets the same set that day, and Replay starts it again from the first board with the same rule. Time is recorded but there is no clock to beat. After the set, Keep practicing serves endless random boards that never change your best.
Controls
- Mouse or touch
- Click or tap a rune to slide it. Use Hint to make one rune that can slide right now glow.
- Keyboard
- Arrow keys move between runes. Enter or Space slides the focused rune. H shows a hint and P pauses and resumes.
Score and progress
Stars count mistakes across the whole set: 2 or fewer earn three stars, 6 or fewer earn two, and finishing always earns one. Each board has one hint; a hint is not a mistake. Your fewest mistakes in a finished set are kept on this device.
What the local challenge changes
A Local challenge locks one of three reviewed rules before the set starts, rotating by UTC day. AI briefings and recaps are being prepared and are not available yet. The boards, sliding, hearts and stars still follow the local game rules.
- Extra Heart
- Every board starts with four hearts instead of three, so a board restarts only after its fourth mistake.
- Glow Hint
- Two hints on every board instead of one.
- Calm Board
- Every board in the set is one row and one column smaller: 3×3 to 6×6 instead of 4×4 to 7×7.
The displayed local rule locks when you start. Local challenges and Classic need no AI response, and your skill decides the result.
At the end, the result shows stars, mistakes, the time for all five boards, taps, hints used and any board restarts. A labeled Local reflection uses those recorded totals.
Questions before you play
What do Local challenges change in Rune Unlock?
AI briefings and recaps are being prepared and are not available yet. Local challenges and Classic are free to play. A Local challenge locks one of three reviewed rules before you start: Extra Heart gives every board four hearts instead of three, Glow Hint gives two hints per board instead of one, and Calm Board makes every board one row and one column smaller. The boards, sliding, hearts and stars stay on your device, and the five boards are the same for everyone using the same rule each UTC day. At the end, compare your mistakes, taps, hints and time with a labeled Local reflection.
Do I need an account or download?
No. You can play for free in your browser with a mouse, touch or keyboard. Progress, your fewest mistakes and today's unfinished set stay on your current device.