How to play Orbit Grid
1. Read the four rules
One satellite per outlined orbit zone, row and column totals must match their numbers, satellites never touch (diagonals included), and a beacon counts the satellites in the eight cells around it.
2. Start from the tight lines
Rows or columns with a target of 0 can be marked empty immediately. A zone squeezed into a single line usually forces that line's count and rules out neighbouring cells.
3. Mark what you have ruled out
Tap a cell twice to mark it impossible. Marks cost nothing, never affect your score, and stop you from re-solving the same deduction.
4. Finish clean
The board completes itself the moment every rule is satisfied — there is no submit button and no penalty for thinking slowly inside the first three minutes.
Scoring
1000 points to start. −60 per rule-breaking placement, −80 per hint, and −1 point per 2 seconds after a three-minute grace period (max −200). Completed puzzles never score below 100.
Controls
- Tap or click a cell: satellite → marked empty → clear.
- Arrow keys move the focus, Space or Enter cycles the focused cell.
- Undo, Restart, Hint and Rules are always in reach above the board.