Feedback exchange — browser playtest using your linked standalone version. I completed the Sep 15 puzzle (8/8 clues, “Solved without hints”). Placing two adjacent pieces updated the clue counter immediately; Undo correctly removed the last placement. The hint confirmation clearly explains that it reveals a place and affects the shared result, and Keep thinking cancelled it without using a hint. One usability snag: clicking a placed building on the grid and then an empty lot did not move it; choosing that same building from the tray and then the lot worked. A selected-piece highlight or a short “choose it from the tray to move it” hint would make that distinction clearer. The expanded All clues view was useful for solving without cycling through clues. I did not test phone touch/drag or cross-day persistence.
The update is live now. Selecting a placed building shows what to do next. Our browser checks didn't reproduce the failed move, so I'm keeping that part open. If it happens again, please let me know your browser and device. Thanks for the detailed report.
I like the core idea of NookGrid. The puzzle itself is clear and easy to understand once you know how the clue system works, and I can see how the daily format could be enjoyable for people who like logic puzzles.
My main feedback is about the first-time experience.
When I opened the game for the first time, I was taken directly to Today’s Puzzle. I didn’t immediately realize that there was a starter puzzle available. I think a simple start screen would help a lot, with clear choices such as:
Today’s Puzzle
Starter / Tutorial
How to Play
That would let returning players jump straight into the daily puzzle, while new players could choose to learn the game first.
I also think the current Starter Puzzle is still quite difficult for a first-time player. It presents all 9 places and many clues at once, but at that point the player is still learning the basic controls, how to place items, how clues work, and what the different relationships mean.
For me, the most important thing would be progression.
The first few starter puzzles could be extremely simple — almost impossible to fail — and teach only one thing at a time. For example:
first, learn how to place one item
then learn “directly left”
then “same row / same column”
then “touching”
then start combining multiple clue types
The Starter section could even contain several small puzzles instead of just one.
I think that would make the learning process feel much more natural. By the time the player reaches Today’s Puzzle, they would already understand both the controls and the logic of the game, so the challenge would come from solving the puzzle itself rather than from figuring out how the game works.
I really appreciate this feedback, my friend. I think you're absolutely right. I'm working on making it better now. Take a look in a few hours - take a look. What do you think?
The update is live now. Tutorial is on the main screen beside the neighborhood plan, and it guides your first three moves before you finish on your own. You can switch back to today's puzzle with your progress saved. Thanks again for helping us spot where the introduction was overwhelming.
I tried the updated tutorial, and it feels much better now.
What I especially like is that it gives the player just one thing to do at a time. Instead of showing all the rules at once, it guides you through the first few moves step by step, so you can learn how the clues and placement work while actually playing.
That makes the game much easier to understand at the beginning, and I think it also lets the player reach the “solving the puzzle” part much faster instead of spending time figuring out how the game itself works.
I also really appreciate how quickly you responded to the feedback and implemented the change. It was great to come back and actually see the difference in the game. Thanks for taking it so seriously!
Comments
Feedback exchange — browser playtest using your linked standalone version. I completed the Sep 15 puzzle (8/8 clues, “Solved without hints”). Placing two adjacent pieces updated the clue counter immediately; Undo correctly removed the last placement. The hint confirmation clearly explains that it reveals a place and affects the shared result, and Keep thinking cancelled it without using a hint. One usability snag: clicking a placed building on the grid and then an empty lot did not move it; choosing that same building from the tray and then the lot worked. A selected-piece highlight or a short “choose it from the tray to move it” hint would make that distinction clearer. The expanded All clues view was useful for solving without cycling through clues. I did not test phone touch/drag or cross-day persistence.
Okay, that's actually good feedback. Thank you so much. Working on this now.
The update is live now. Selecting a placed building shows what to do next. Our browser checks didn't reproduce the failed move, so I'm keeping that part open. If it happens again, please let me know your browser and device. Thanks for the detailed report.
I like the core idea of NookGrid. The puzzle itself is clear and easy to understand once you know how the clue system works, and I can see how the daily format could be enjoyable for people who like logic puzzles.
My main feedback is about the first-time experience.
When I opened the game for the first time, I was taken directly to Today’s Puzzle. I didn’t immediately realize that there was a starter puzzle available. I think a simple start screen would help a lot, with clear choices such as:
That would let returning players jump straight into the daily puzzle, while new players could choose to learn the game first.
I also think the current Starter Puzzle is still quite difficult for a first-time player. It presents all 9 places and many clues at once, but at that point the player is still learning the basic controls, how to place items, how clues work, and what the different relationships mean.
For me, the most important thing would be progression.
The first few starter puzzles could be extremely simple — almost impossible to fail — and teach only one thing at a time. For example:
The Starter section could even contain several small puzzles instead of just one.
I think that would make the learning process feel much more natural. By the time the player reaches Today’s Puzzle, they would already understand both the controls and the logic of the game, so the challenge would come from solving the puzzle itself rather than from figuring out how the game works.
I really appreciate this feedback, my friend. I think you're absolutely right. I'm working on making it better now. Take a look in a few hours - take a look. What do you think?
The update is live now. Tutorial is on the main screen beside the neighborhood plan, and it guides your first three moves before you finish on your own. You can switch back to today's puzzle with your progress saved. Thanks again for helping us spot where the introduction was overwhelming.
I tried the updated tutorial, and it feels much better now. What I especially like is that it gives the player just one thing to do at a time. Instead of showing all the rules at once, it guides you through the first few moves step by step, so you can learn how the clues and placement work while actually playing.
That makes the game much easier to understand at the beginning, and I think it also lets the player reach the “solving the puzzle” part much faster instead of spending time figuring out how the game itself works.
I also really appreciate how quickly you responded to the feedback and implemented the change. It was great to come back and actually see the difference in the game. Thanks for taking it so seriously!
Thanks for trying it again. Glad the step-by-step tutorial made the first moves clearer!