Poptimum

About Poptimum

Poptimum is an optimisation game rather than a puzzle with one answer. Each day brings a set of fridge magnets in odd shapes, such as a penguin, a goldfish, a pig and a mushroom, and a round board to fit them on. Magnets cannot overlap, so the job is to turn and nudge them until as much of the board as possible is covered. The fill percentage at the top updates as you go.

There is no fixed finish. You keep improving your layout for as long as you like, with undo and redo, a button that returns to your best arrangement so far, and a reset for a fresh start. Your best score is sent to a shared table, and the game shows how it compares with the top score from your country and the top score in the world, marking it when you take either. You can share an image of your packed shape.

The game is made by Shay Davidson and the set changes at midnight UTC. It is free in the browser and needs no account. It suits players who enjoy fiddling with shapes and chasing a fraction of a percent more than solving a clue.

How to play Poptimum

1. Look over the day's magnets and the round board.
2. Drag a magnet onto the board with its drag handle.
3. Use the rotate handle to turn it so it sits closer to its neighbours.
4. Keep adjusting until no gaps are left that a magnet could use; magnets may not overlap.
5. Check your fill percentage against your country's and the world's best, and share your layout.

Tips

• Place the largest magnets first and fill the gaps with the small ones.
• Big pieces usually fit best along the curved edge, where they waste less space.
• If a rearrangement makes things worse, use the button that returns to your best layout.

Questions