Both puzzles divide a grid into rectangles with exactly one clue each. In Shikaku the clue is the rectangle’s area. In Tatamibari the clue is a symbol — “+” for a square, “–” for a rectangle wider than tall, “|” for one taller than wide — and no four rectangles may meet at a single corner.
Side by side
| Shikaku | Tatamibari | |
|---|---|---|
| Clue | Area (a number) | Shape symbol: +, –, | |
| Size known? | Yes | No |
| Shape known? | No | Partly (square / wide / tall) |
| Extra rule | — | No point where four rectangles meet |
| Publisher | Nikoli | Nikoli |
| Complexity | NP-complete | NP-complete |
In detail
The two puzzles are mirror images: Shikaku tells you how big but not what shape; Tatamibari tells you roughly what shape but not how big. Tatamibari’s corner rule — named after the traditional arrangement of tatami mats — produces deductions that have no Shikaku equivalent.
Which should you play?
Shikaku is the better starting point: it is more widely published and its numeric clues are easier to reason about. Tatamibari is a rewarding next step once rectangle logic feels natural.
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Six sizes, three levels, every puzzle with a unique solution.
Questions
What is Tatamibari?
A Nikoli logic puzzle where you divide a grid into rectangles; each contains one symbol saying whether it is a square, wider than tall, or taller than wide, and no four rectangles may meet at a point.
Is Tatamibari the same as Shikaku?
No. Both use rectangles, but Shikaku clues give area while Tatamibari clues give shape, and Tatamibari adds a corner rule.