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Tectonic (Suguru)
Tectonic, also published as Suguru and as "Number Blocks," is a logic puzzle created by Japanese puzzle maker Naoki Inaba. The grid is divided into small irregular cages, and you place numbers within each one. A simple adjacency rule makes it surprisingly tricky.
Tectonic (Suguru) Rules
The grid is split into outlined cages of varying sizes. A cage of N cells must contain the numbers 1 through N, each exactly once — so a 5-cell cage holds 1 to 5, a 3-cell cage holds 1 to 3.
No two cells holding the same number may touch each other, in any of the eight directions — horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. This applies across cage boundaries, not just within a cage.
Some cells start with given numbers as anchors. You fill the rest so every cage contains its full run and no identical digits are adjacent. A correct Tectonic puzzle has exactly one solution.
Tectonic (Suguru) Strategy & Tips
Use the diagonal-touch rule aggressively
Because identical numbers can't touch even diagonally, one placed digit blocks it from up to eight surrounding cells. This eliminates candidates fast — far faster than in Sudoku-style puzzles.
Fill the smallest cages first
A two-cell cage only ever holds 1 and 2, and a one-cell cage is fixed at 1. Solving tiny cages plants anchors that constrain their larger neighbors.
Place the high numbers carefully
In a 5-cell cage, the 5 appears only once and is often the most constrained. Pin down where the largest value can sit, since fewer cells can legally hold it.
Look across cage borders
The adjacency rule ignores boundaries, so a number near a cage edge restricts the neighboring cage too. Always check what an adjacent cage has already committed to.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tectonic the same as Suguru?
Yes. Tectonic and Suguru are the same puzzle, invented by Naoki Inaba; it is also sold as "Number Blocks."
What numbers go in a Tectonic cage?
A cage with N cells contains the numbers 1 through N, each used exactly once. The cage's size determines its range of digits.
Can the same number be next to itself in Suguru?
No. Two cells with the same number can never touch, including diagonally — this is the puzzle's defining constraint.
How is Tectonic different from Sudoku?
Tectonic uses irregular cages of different sizes rather than fixed rows and boxes, and its key rule forbids equal digits from touching in any of the eight directions.