Skyscraper Rules — Counting Towers You Can See

Every edge clue is a line of sight. Fill the grid with tower heights 1–5, one of each per row and column. An observer at each edge clue looks down that line: a tower is visible only if it is taller than everything before it, so the clue equals the number of visible towers. A clue of 1 means the tallest tower stands right at that edge; a clue of 5 means the heights ascend all the way (1-2-3-4-5).

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The rules

Rule	What it means
Latin square	Every row and every column contains each height exactly once.
Visibility count	Each edge clue equals the number of towers visible from that side; taller towers hide all shorter towers behind them.
Classic presentation	All edge clues are shown; the given digits inside the grid are minimized instead.

1s and ns first

Clue 1 ⇒ the tallest tower (5) is adjacent to that clue. Clue 5 ⇒ the whole line ascends 1-2-3-4-5. Fill every forced cell these produce before anything else.

Opposite-edge sum

For the same line seen from both ends, clue_a + clue_b ≤ n + 1. Pairs that hit the bound (like 2 and 4 on a 5×5) sharply limit where the 5 can stand.

Ban the tall early

A clue of k means the first k−1 cells cannot hold the tallest tower — cross 5 out of them immediately, then re-apply the row/column no-repeat rule.

Verified, not promised

450 daily 5×5 boards (from 2026-08-24) plus 320 free-play boards, all edge clues kept visible in the classic style. Interior givens are minimized with the solver re-proving a unique, deduction-reachable solution after every removal.

FAQ

What are the rules of a skyscraper puzzle?

Fill the grid with tower heights (1–5 on a 5×5) so every row and column contains each height once. Each clue on the edge counts how many towers are visible looking down that row or column from the clue's position — taller towers hide shorter ones behind them.

What does a 1 clue mean in skyscraper puzzles?

A 1 means only one tower is visible from that edge, which forces the tallest tower (5 on a 5×5) to stand immediately next to that clue.

What is the opposite-clue trick in skyscraper puzzles?

For any line, the two clues at its opposite ends satisfy a + b ≤ n + 1, where n is the grid size. Clue pairs near that bound pin down the position of the tallest tower quickly.

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