YesPuzzles Blog

Notes on puzzles, play, and what we're building next.

Can you play hex minesweeper without guessing?
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Guide 2026 · 09 · 12 / Ana

Can you play hex minesweeper without guessing?

Classic Minesweeper can trap you in a 50/50 guess. Hex Minesweeper on YesPuzzles uses a hexagonal board and a Link clue so you solve every puzzle with logic.

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19 articles
What is a puzzle game?

Game design 2026 · 09 · 08 / Ana

What is a puzzle game?

There is no single definition of a puzzle game. I look at all six YesPuzzles games and ask how much of a puzzle each one is, from Smartle through Vagabond.

What Gamescom players thought of our Hex Minesweeper

News 2026 · 09 · 02 / Ana

What Gamescom players thought of our Hex Minesweeper

We playtested our hexagonal minesweeper with hundreds of Gamescom visitors. How we found the right players, what they got instantly, and what confused them.

Why puzzle games feel so satisfying

Game design 2026 · 08 · 22 / Ana

Why puzzle games feel so satisfying

Solving a puzzle is more than winning. You stare, try ideas, then everything clicks. That oh-of-course moment is why browser puzzle games feel so good.

We built a simpler Hex Sense: Hex Minesweeper

Game design 2026 · 08 · 18 / Ana

We built a simpler Hex Sense: Hex Minesweeper

Hex Sense players asked for the same experience without a story, and we give it to you in this new game. Hex Minesweeper is a no-guessing hexagonal Minesweeper.

New puzzle games we are working on right now

News 2026 · 08 · 17 / Ana

New puzzle games we are working on right now

A small check-in from our studio on two puzzle games we are building now: a new word puzzle and our first two-player puzzle you can play online with friends.

Grading our own games against the daily puzzle checklist

Game design 2026 · 08 · 04 / Ana

Grading our own games against the daily puzzle checklist

We score Smartle, Hex Sense, Clean!, and Catch'n'Merge on fair difficulty, short sessions, and respect for the player's time - including where we fall short.

What makes a puzzle worth playing every day? Developer’s take

Game design 2026 · 07 · 31 / Ana

What makes a puzzle worth playing every day? Developer’s take

Our developer checklist for a daily brain puzzle: fair, short, no dark patterns, and a great value for your invested time.

Coffee and puzzle first: how a daily puzzle became part of my morning

Lifestyle 2026 · 07 · 29 / Ana

Coffee and puzzle first: how a daily puzzle became part of my morning

My mornings start with coffee and one daily puzzle before work. Why this small routine sticks, and which free daily brain games fit in a ten-minute window.

No guessing allowed: how we design every Hex Sense level to be solvable

Game design 2026 · 07 · 22 / Ana

No guessing allowed: how we design every Hex Sense level to be solvable

In Minesweeper you sometimes have to guess 50/50. In Hex Sense puzzle you can always reach the exit by pure logic. The one hidden guess is only for players who open every tile.

Why chain reactions feel so good

Game design 2026 · 07 · 18 / Ana

Why chain reactions feel so good

Chain reactions are one of the most satisfying things in puzzle games. Here is how they work in Clean!, Hex Sense and Catch'n'Merge and why we love them.

Why we built Hex Sense on hexagons and other interesting choices we made

Game design 2026 · 07 · 14 / Ana

Why we built Hex Sense on hexagons and other interesting choices we made

We love Minesweeper, but we built Hex Sense as a hexagon logic puzzle with a round pink hero called Mochi. Here is why we chose hexagons instead of squares.

How to play Hex Sense - a hexagonal minesweeper adventure

Guide 2026 · 07 · 12 / Pavlo

How to play Hex Sense - a hexagonal minesweeper adventure

Hex Sense is a hexagonal minesweeper online with no guessing. Learn to read the number clues, flag hazards, and guide Mochi safely to the Exit.

Why we merge creatures instead of fruits in Catch'n'Merge

Game design 2026 · 07 · 03 / Ana

Why we merge creatures instead of fruits in Catch'n'Merge

We had to decide what players would merge in Catch'n'Merge: fruits, objects or creatures. Here is why we chose creatures and how we built their evolution chain.

How to play Clean! - match colors, clear the board

Guide 2026 · 06 · 30 / Pavlo

How to play Clean! - match colors, clear the board

Clean! is a chain reaction puzzle game you can play for free in the browser. Tap hex tiles, change colors, pop groups of three, and clear the board.

How we failed and then fixed the design of Catch’n’Merge puzzle

Game design 2026 · 06 · 28 / Ana

How we failed and then fixed the design of Catch’n’Merge puzzle

Inspired by the Suika merge puzzle but wanting more dynamic gameplay, we created Catch'n'Merge. Discover how we realized our first design was a mismatch and how we successfully changed it.

How to play Catch'n'Merge - catch fast, merge calm, evolve

Guide 2026 · 06 · 23 / Pavlo

How to play Catch'n'Merge - catch fast, merge calm, evolve

Catch fast by day, merge calm by night - Catch'n'Merge pairs a tense Fall catching stage with a relaxed Merge phase in the jar. This guide covers both halves, your tools, gems, and strategy to climb the evolution chain.

Let us show you our puzzle games

News 2026 · 06 · 21 / Ana

Let us show you our puzzle games

Let us walk you through the puzzle games you can play on Yes Puzzles today - Smartle, Hex Sense, Clean!, and Catch'n'Merge. All free, all in your browser.

Yes Puzzles - all puzzle game lovers are welcome!

News 2026 · 06 · 17 / Ana

Yes Puzzles - all puzzle game lovers are welcome!

Yes Puzzles is our home for free browser puzzle games - word puzzles, logic games, and daily brain teasers. If you love puzzles, you're welcome here.