KOBAKO

What KOBAKO is

KOBAKO is a daily spatial puzzle set inside a Japanese wooden puzzle box. Each day presents a box with wooden blocks that slide only along their grain. Your goal is to guide a black key down to a brass lock by sliding blocks and turning the box to change its orientation. Every slide counts as one move, so the puzzle rewards careful planning before you disturb the arrangement. When the key reaches the lock, the box opens and you earn that day's one-of-a-kind keepsake for your shelf. Opening the box in the fewest moves gives the keepsake a gold-leaf version. You have three hints available, but each hint adds one move. You can also start over to reset the puzzle to 0 moves and try again.

How to play

Look at the grain direction on each wooden block before moving it. A block can slide only along its grain. Turn the box to reposition the blocks and the black key, then continue sliding and turning until the key reaches the brass lock. Every slide counts as one move, so keep the total as low as possible. Opening the box earns the daily keepsake, and using the fewest moves earns the gold-leaf version. You have three hints, and each hint adds one move, so hints make a low move count harder to reach. Starting over resets the puzzle to 0 moves if you want a clean attempt.

Tips

1. Move only along each block's grain; a block will not slide in other directions.
2. Because the key and blocks shift when the box is turned, combine slides with turns to bring the key down to the lock.
3. Each of the three hints adds one move, so any hint increases the move count needed for that attempt.
4. Starting over resets the puzzle to 0 moves, giving you a clean slate whenever you want to retry.