Frequently Asked Questions
What is Netwalk?
Netwalk is a free browser puzzle: rotate fixed tiles to make one connected network. This is an independent implementation, with no affiliation to other projects named Net or NetWalk. Start with the interactive tutorial or open the game.
How do I complete a board?
Click or tap an unlocked tile to rotate it clockwise. Every opening must meet an opposite opening on its neighbor, and every tile must reach the orange server. Bounded and Torus also require no cycles; Classic permits cycles. Cyan indicates current server connectivity, not proof that a tile is correctly oriented.
What do the modes change?
Bounded has solid boundaries and a central server. Torus connects opposite edges and also has a central server. Classic has solid boundaries, a randomly placed server and may supply locked clues. Locked clues cannot rotate; Bounded and Torus do not supply them. See the Netwalk Modes Explained: Bounded, Torus, Classic and Daily for examples.
What grid sizes are available?
Ordinary games accept 3 to 25 rows and 3 to 25 columns, including rectangular boards. Presets are 5×5, 7×7, 9×9, 12×12 and 15×15. Daily starts a 7×7 Bounded board. Size is not a measured difficulty rating.
Can I undo moves?
Yes. Use the Undo button or press Z to reverse moves. R starts a new random game or restarts the Daily challenge, depending on the page. Undo does not identify the correct solution; it helps you reverse a move or test an assumption.
Are all puzzles solvable?
Generation constructs a connected solution before scrambling. Bounded and Torus preserve a tree; Classic may add reciprocal edges. Restoring the constructed orientations supplies a solution. Development tests verify generated examples, but the runtime does not run an independent validator on every new board, prove uniqueness, or guarantee a deduction-only solution.
Why does a lit board not always win?
Reachability is only one completion condition. An extra arm facing a closed side or a wall still prevents a win. In Bounded and Torus, a cycle also prevents completion. Check every arm and the selected mode before rotating a dark tile at random.
How does the Daily challenge work?
Daily uses a UTC date seed and a fixed 7×7 Bounded setup. The same date with the same generator version reproduces the starting board. Updates to generation can change the result for an old date. Personal best move counts are local records, not a verified global leaderboard.
Is there a time limit?
No. The timer counts upward without imposing a deadline. You can stop before finishing. There is no required daily streak or promised solve time.
Can I use a phone or a keyboard?
The main canvas supports pointer and touch rotation. Z and R are shortcuts, but full per-tile keyboard navigation is not implemented on the main canvas. The nine-tile tutorial uses buttons that can be selected with Tab and rotated with Enter or Space. Start with a small board if tiles are difficult to target on your screen.
Do I need to install anything?
No installation or account is required. The game needs JavaScript and a browser with Canvas support. Instructions and guides remain readable as HTML when JavaScript is disabled.
Can I play offline?
A fully loaded tab can continue running the puzzle without a connection. Reopening or reloading offline is not guaranteed: there is no service worker or installable offline package. Browsers may discard background tabs. Load the board while connected and keep the tab open before relying on it.
What is saved or collected?
The unfinished board and timer live in memory. Board dimensions and personal best move counts can persist in localStorage on your device; they are not uploaded by the game. Reloading loses an unfinished random board. Cloudflare hosts the site and provides performance analytics. Contacting us shares the information you send. See the Privacy Policy.
Is the game free and does it show ads?
The current game is free, without an account, subscription or payment. Advertising is currently paused and site pages do not load Google ad code. If advertising is restored, the privacy disclosure and applicable consent choices will govern its use.
Which languages can I choose?
English and Chinese are the maintained play pages. German, French, Spanish, Japanese, Russian and Korean addresses redirect to the English game. Three Chinese guides cover the rules, the three modes, and a solving routine. Longer blog articles stay in English.
Where can I report a problem?
Use the contact page. Include the URL, mode, dimensions, browser and the UTC date for a Daily board. A screenshot and the steps immediately before the problem are useful; do not send passwords or private account information.