How to Play Battleship Solitaire
Battleship Solitaire (also known as Bimaru) is a logic puzzle where you place a fixed fleet on a 10×10 grid using only clues and deduction — no guessing required.
Core Rules
- Row and column clues show how many ship cells belong in each line (not how many ships).
- The fleet is fixed: one 4-cell battleship, two 3-cell cruisers, three 2-cell destroyers, four 1-cell submarines.
- Ships cannot touch each other — not by side, not diagonally.
- Every clue must match exactly when the puzzle is complete.
The Game Interface
Timer — appears at the top and starts on your first cell interaction. After finishing, it shows your solve time for comparison with others.
Fleet panel — shown at the bottom. Displays all ships to find with a counter that decrements as ships are placed.
Desktop Controls
- Left-click — cycles sea → ship → empty.
- Right-click — cycles in reverse: ship → sea → empty.
Mobile Controls
- First tap = sea.
- Second tap = ship.
- Third tap = empty (reset).
Settings
Click the settings button to switch between light/dark mode and to reorder which state appears on the first click.
Best Opening Move
Start with rows and columns that show 0 or very high values — they give the most immediate deductions and cost no thinking at all.
Want to See a Full Walkthrough?
Watch the tutorial video where Dan, the creator, solves a complete puzzle and explains every move.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between the newspaper version and this one?
The rules are identical. The online version adds a convenient interface, auto-save, and a fresh daily challenge.
Is this the same as Bimaru?
Yes — Bimaru is another common name for the same puzzle family.
How do I undo a move?
Click the undo button. The game stores 30 moves of history.
Can I change which click places a ship vs water?
Yes — open Settings to reorder the click cycle.
Does the timer affect my score?
There's no score. The timer shows your solve time so you can compare with others.