Ink Side Down (Arkai)

Roll a cube with one inked face so it prints every marked square and nothing else.

Every day: Three new boards every day (Easy, Medium and Hard), the same for everyone, with earlier days still playable. New puzzle: Midnight, local time (the day's boards are worked out on your device from the date).

Play Ink Side Down on its own page

Ink Side Down Hard board with a cube, blocked squares, printed red marks and dashed marks still to print

Ink Side Down is a daily rolling-cube puzzle on Arkai. One face of a cube is wet with ink, and whenever it lands face down it prints the square underneath. Ink may only touch the marked squares, so you plan each roll to print every mark in as few rolls as the par. Three boards a day, the same for everyone.

About Ink Side Down (Arkai)

Ink Side Down is one of the daily puzzles on Arkai, a small portal of free browser games with no account, ads or third-party code.

Each day brings three boards, Easy, Medium and Hard, worked out from the date so every player gets the same ones. A cube sits on a sheet of squares, some with dashed marks and some blocked. One side of the cube is red with ink. Each roll tips the cube one square over, which turns the inked side; when it lands face down, it prints the square beneath.

The catch is that ink may only touch the marked squares. A roll that would print a bare square simply does not happen, and the board shows a dot beside the cube for rolls that would print and a cross for ones the ink forbids. You win by printing every mark, and undo and restart do not give rolls back, so matching the par, the fewest rolls, takes planning. Results can be shared without spoilers, and every earlier day stays playable.

It rewards picturing how a cube turns in your head. It suits players who enjoy rolling-block puzzles and short planning challenges.

How to play Ink Side Down (Arkai)

  1. Open Ink Side Down and start today's Easy, Medium or Hard board.
  2. Roll the cube with the arrow keys, WASD, or by swiping or tapping toward a square.
  3. Track which way the inked side faces as the cube tips over.
  4. Land the inked side face down only on the dashed marks to print them.
  5. Print every mark, aiming to match the par for the fewest rolls.

Tips

  • Four rolls in a straight line bring the inked face back to where it started.
  • Watch the dot and cross hints beside the cube before each move.
  • Plan the order of marks first: some are only reachable with the ink facing a certain way.

Questions

Is it the same puzzle for everyone?

Yes, the three daily boards are the same for all players.

What happens if a roll would ink a bare square?

The roll does not happen and does not count.

Can I play earlier days?

Yes, every earlier day stays playable, though not for your streak.

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