Yarn Untangled is a gentle untangling puzzle wrapped around a set of kittens and their balls of wool. Each level shows several strands of yarn crossed over one another, and the task is to separate them so that each kitten ends up with its own thread and none of the strands overlap. Solving means dragging the loose ends or the pegs holding them until every crossing is undone. It belongs to the same family as the classic planarity puzzle, where a graph has to be rearranged so no lines intersect, but it is presented far more softly than that description suggests. There is no timer, no score to chase and no way to fail a level, which makes it a good deal calmer than most puzzle games. The difficulty is real all the same. Once six or seven strands are involved, undoing one crossing routinely creates two more, and the levels are laid out so that the tidy-looking arrangement is rarely the untangled one.
How to Play Yarn Untangled
Drag the ends of the yarn, or the points holding them, to move the strands around the screen. The aim is an arrangement in which no two threads cross each other. Levels have no timer and no failure state, so you can rearrange as many times as you need before the level resolves.
Tips and Tricks
Spread everything out before trying to solve anything. Most tangles look impossible only because the strands are bunched together.
Fix one strand at a time and leave it alone once it is clear. Solvers who keep adjusting everything at once tend to go round in circles.
Move the point with the most threads attached to it first. It has the largest effect on the board and is usually what the level is built around.
Count the crossings as you work. If a move reduces the number, keep it; if it holds steady, you are rearranging rather than solving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I lose a level?
No. There is no timer and no failure state, so a level continues until the strands are untangled or you leave it.
What counts as solved?
An arrangement in which no two lengths of yarn cross each other. The strands can sit anywhere on screen as long as nothing overlaps.
Is it suitable for young children?
Yes, particularly the early levels. There is no reading, nothing to lose, and the goal is visually obvious once seen.
Do the levels get harder?
Yes. More strands and more connection points mean undoing one crossing often creates others, which is where the real puzzle starts.
Do I need to install anything?
No. Yarn Untangled runs in the browser on GN Math and works by dragging with a mouse or a finger.
Tags
untangle puzzle, yarn game, logic puzzle, relaxing game, brain game, planarity, single player, browser game, no download, kids puzzle
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