How to Play Galaxies
Galaxies, Nikoli's Tentai Show ("astronomy show" and "rotational symmetry" in one pun), fills the sky with spinning shapes: every dot is the centre of a region that looks the same upside down.
The rules
- Each dot is the centre of one galaxy: a connected group of squares.
- Every galaxy is symmetric under a half turn about its dot.
- Every square belongs to exactly one galaxy.
Playing on kawu
- Tap a dot to select its galaxy (it gets a colour), then tap squares to paint them. The mirror square across the dot is painted at the same time. Tap a painted square to clear it.
- The squares a dot sits on are already painted.
- Undo steps back; Hint fixes a wrong square or paints a correct one.
- Sizes 5×5, 7×7, 9×9; the daily puzzle is a 7×7 shared by everyone.
Next, read the Galaxies solving tips.
Frequently asked questions
What does rotational symmetry mean here?
Turn the region upside down (180°) about its dot and it must land exactly on itself. Every square has a partner the same distance from the dot on the opposite side; the dot's own square or squares are their own partners.
Can a galaxy be a single square?
Yes. A dot on a square can be a galaxy of just that square. A dot on an edge is at least two squares, on a corner at least four.
Last updated 2026-10-21