Key difference: in Masyu the loop runs through cell centres and the clues are pearls that dictate the loop’s shape (turn or go straight). In Slitherlink the loop runs along grid edges and numbers count adjacent loop segments; in Yajilin you also shade cells the loop avoids.
| Puzzle | Loop runs | Clues | Must the loop visit every cell? | Feels like |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masyu | Through cell centres | White and black pearls (shape rules) | No — only pearl cells | Elegant, visual, pattern-driven |
| Slitherlink | Along grid edges (between dots) | Numbers 0–3: how many sides of that cell the loop uses | No | Counting and corner logic |
| Yajilin | Through cell centres | Arrows with numbers counting shaded cells in a direction | Yes — every unshaded cell | Shading + loop together |
| Country Road | Through cell centres | Regions, some numbered with how many cells the loop visits | No; each region entered exactly once | Region bookkeeping |
| Balance Loop | Through cell centres | Circles: white = equal straight arms, black = unequal arms | No | Masyu-like with measurement |
| Castle Wall | Through cell centres | Walls with arrows and numbers, inside/outside colours | No | Inside/outside reasoning |
Masyu vs. Slitherlink
Slitherlink is the most famous loop puzzle. Its clues are numbers inside cells; the loop runs around the cells on the lines between dots. Masyu feels more geometric: instead of counting, you reason about shapes — corners, straights and the arms of black pearls. Both use the same global loop rules: no branches, no crossings, no premature loops and the even-crossing (parity) rule.
Masyu vs. Yajilin
Yajilin combines shading with a loop: arrows tell you how many shaded cells lie in a direction, and the loop must pass through every cell that isn’t shaded or a clue. Masyu is cleaner — there’s no shading and the loop may skip cells — which makes it a better first loop puzzle.
Which is hardest?
Difficulty depends far more on the individual puzzle than the genre. For most new solvers, Masyu is the gentlest entry point because there are only two clue types and the rules are visual. Once comfortable, many players move to Slitherlink for counting logic or Yajilin for mixed shading and loops.
Skills that transfer
- Dead ends and forced continuations — every loop puzzle uses them.
- Avoiding premature loops — the single most important global technique.
- Parity across a cut — any closed loop crosses a boundary an even number of times.
- Marking ✕ — recording what is impossible is half the solve.
All of these are explained with diagrams in our Masyu strategy guide.