🎮 A curated list of Block Puzzle games, solvers, AI agents, tools, and research resources

Block Puzzle represents a family of strategic grid-based placement games where players position polyomino shapes on fixed grids (8×8, 9×9, or 10×10) to clear complete rows and columns. Unlike real-time falling block games (Tetris), Block Puzzle emphasizes spatial planning, pattern recognition, and strategic thinking in a turn-based environment.

This list brings together the fragmented Block Puzzle ecosystem—spanning game implementations, AI solvers, algorithmic research, and development tools—into a single comprehensive resource. Whether you're building a game, researching algorithms, or training AI agents, you'll find high-quality resources organized by category.

What makes this different from Tetris? While Tetris features real-time falling blocks with row-only clearing, Block Puzzle games offer free placement anywhere on a static grid with both row AND column clearing. This fundamental difference creates unique algorithmic challenges and strategic depth.

Contributions are welcome! Help grow this collection by submitting PRs. See contributing guidelines.

• About
• Understanding Block Puzzle
  • Game Variants
  • Key Mechanics
• Online Platforms
• Game Implementations
  • Block Blast (8×8)
  • 1010! (10×10)
  • Woodoku/Blockudoku (9×9)
  • Generic & Custom Variants
• AI & Solvers
  • Reinforcement Learning
  • Heuristic Search
  • Genetic Algorithms
  • Machine Learning
• Core Algorithms
  • Dancing Links & Algorithm X
  • Exact Cover Solvers
  • Polyomino Packing
• Related Puzzle Types
  • Tangram Solvers
  • Pentomino & Polyomino
  • 3D Block Puzzles
• Development Tools
  • Game Engines & Libraries
  • OCR & Computer Vision
  • Puzzle Generators
  • Visualization Tools
• Learning Resources
  • Academic Papers
  • Educational Projects
  • Video Tutorials
• Community
• Related Awesome Lists

Core Gameplay:

• 🎯 Place polyomino shapes anywhere on a fixed grid
• ✨ Complete rows OR columns are cleared (both count!)
• 🧠 Turn-based with no time pressure
• 🎮 Game ends when no valid placements remain

Strategic Elements:

• Planning multi-move sequences
• Corner and edge management
• Combo chain optimization
• Space efficiency vs. clearing opportunities

Comparison with Tetris:

Play, train, or experiment with Block Puzzle games directly in your browser.

• ⭐ Block Blast Intelligent Training Python JavaScript - Revolutionary training platform featuring:

  • 🛡️ Four algorithms ensuring 100% solvable puzzles
  • 🤖 AI analysis with game replay
  • 📸 Perspective transform OCR (99.5% accuracy)
  • 🎓 Comprehensive strategy guides
  • 🏆 Multiple training modes

• BlockBlast-Game-AI-Agent Python - Complete reimplementation with:

  • Deep Q-Network (DQN)
  • Proximal Policy Optimization (PPO)
  • Action masking for valid moves
  • Pygame interface
  • OpenAI Gym environment

• BlockBlastML Python - PyTorch-based ML solver with neural network approach.

• Klooni1010 Java - Professional Android game using libGDX:

  • Multiple themes
  • No advertisements
  • Offline play
  • Open source

• 1010-rl Python - Deep reinforcement learning agent for 1010! with documented training process.

• shanko/1010 Ruby - Ruby/Gosu implementation with color-based scoring.

• not1010 JavaScript - HTML5 Canvas version with smooth animations.

• tenbyten JavaScript - Vanilla JS with server validation and global leaderboards.

• stephaniecoleman/1010 JavaScript - Object-oriented implementation demonstrating clean architecture.

• 1212 JavaScript - Inspired by 1010! with unique mechanics variation.

• react-1010 React - Modern React-based clone with contemporary UI patterns.

• 1010C C# - Unity implementation using Entitas ECS framework for performance.

• Tiny-1010 C++ - Embedded version for Arduboy handheld device.

• zx80/1010 Python - Efficient heuristic solver optimized for speed.

• ⭐ Blokie JavaScript - Advanced engine with AI achieving 1.5M+ average score. Play online.

• WoodokuAI C++ - High-performance AI with:

  • Multi-threaded search
  • Android auto-play via ADB
  • Configurable search depth

• blockudoku Python - PyGame implementation mixing Tetris and Sudoku concepts.

• gym-woodoku Python - Gymnasium RL environment supporting:

  • Multiple game modes
  • Custom reward functions
  • Observation space variants

• algofun Python - BlockuDoku solver with ML-based strategies and logistic regression player.

• WoodokuSolver Python - Clean Python solver implementation.

• woodoku-solver Python - Alternative solving approach with detailed documentation.

• ember3141/woodoku-solver JavaScript - Browser-based solver with interactive interface.

• block-puzzle-solver Java - Generic solver supporting arbitrary grid sizes and block shapes with optimization focus.

• block-puzzle-solver Java - RESTful API for puzzle generation and solving with web interface.

• block-puzzle JavaScript - Customizable JavaScript implementation.

• sliding-puzzle JavaScript - ES6 sliding block puzzle with modern syntax.

• block-puzzle JavaScript - Number ordering variant.

• Block-Game Python - Terminal-based falling block puzzle with retro ASCII aesthetic.

• block-blitz TypeScript - Modern Next.js implementation with TypeScript.

• block_party JavaScript - 3D puzzle game built with Three.js.

• BlockBlast-Game-AI-Agent Python - Multiple RL algorithms (DQN, PPO) with action masking.

• 1010-rl Python - Deep RL specifically for 1010! game optimization.

• BlockBlastML Python - PyTorch neural network approach.

• gym-woodoku Python - Gymnasium environment enabling RL research on Woodoku.

• reinforcement_learning_jigsaw_puzzle Python - RL approach to jigsaw-style placement puzzles.

• Block Blast Training Python - Four intelligent algorithms including heuristic path search.

• Blokie JavaScript - Sophisticated heuristics achieving professional-level scores.

• WoodokuAI C++ - Multi-threaded search with configurable depth.

• zx80/1010 Python - Optimized heuristic solver for 1010!

• Single-Player MCTS - Monte Carlo Tree Search algorithms optimized for single-player puzzle games:

  • Combines random sampling with tree search
  • Effective for large state spaces
  • Used in puzzle generation and solving

• MCTS Sokoban - Data-driven puzzle generation using MCTS for procedural content creation.

• GaBlockSudoku JavaScript - Genetic algorithm for Block Sudoku with live demo.

• tangram-ga Python - Genetic algorithm for tangram (related puzzle category).

• algofun Python - Logistic regression player trained on board state evaluations.

• BlockBlastML Python - Neural network approach with training pipeline.

Donald Knuth's Algorithm X with Dancing Links (DLX) represents the gold standard for exact cover problems, including polyomino tiling.

Foundational Implementations:

• ⭐ cemulate/polyomino-solver JavaScript - Comprehensive solver with interactive web interface.

• farhiongit/dancing-links C - User-friendly C implementation with extensive documentation and examples.

• benfowler/dancing-links Java - High-performance Java version with:

  • Ultra-fast Sudoku solver
  • 3D tetramino examples
  • Benchmarking suite

• blynn/dlx C - C library featuring Sudoku and logic grid puzzle solvers.

Language-Specific Implementations:

• bluss/dlx Rust - Idiomatic Rust implementation leveraging type safety.

• DancingLinksX Python - Python 3 implementation with clear documentation.

• desmondcheongzx/dancing-links Common Lisp - Lisp implementation with Sudoku solver demonstration.

• declanvk/dancing-links Rust - Alternative Rust version with clean API design.

• razimantv/DancingLinks C++ - Solves games reducible to exact cover problems.

• sc546/dlx Python - Implementation with Graphviz visualization capabilities.

• calendar-polyomino-solver JavaScript - Calendar puzzle solver using DLX. Interactive demo.

• SAT-based approaches - Convert tiling problems to Boolean satisfiability for alternative solving strategies.

• pypolyomino Python - Scripts for packing polyominoes into rectangular regions.

• meiji-choko-solver Java - Solver for Meiji chocolate puzzles and general polyomino problems with GUI.

• fafaro/polyomino_solver C# - Interactive solver with intuitive graphical interface.

• aaronsnoswell/polyomino-solver Python/MATLAB - Multihedral tiling solver for complex patterns.

• polyomino-puzzle-solver JavaScript - Web-based solver with visual editor.

Tangram puzzles share algorithmic challenges with block placement games.

• Common-Lisp-Tangram-Solver Common Lisp - Sophisticated solver with CLIM GUI. Featured in European Lisp Symposium '21.

• tangram_solver Python - Computer vision-based solver reading tangrams from images.

• TangramAI Python - Complete solution with built-in editor, solves most puzzles in seconds.

• TangramPuzzleSolver JavaScript - Advanced solver using Dancing Links for 11 block types. Online tool.

• Artificial_Intelligence_Project1 Python - Academic project with 7-piece, 13-piece, and any-shape tangram solvers.

• tangram_python Python - Clean implementation with GUI support.

• 3d-tangram-solver Python - 3D variant solver for hexagonal wooden puzzles.

• BlockPuzzleSolver JavaScript - Monomino through pentomino solver with rotation/reflection support.

• polyomino-solver JavaScript - Universal polyomino fitting problem solver.

• pypolyomino Python - Pentomino rectangle packing algorithms.

• meiji-choko-solver Java - General polyomino puzzle framework.

• polyomino_solver C# - Interactive placement and solution visualization.

• block-puzzle-solver C++ - Solves 5×5×5 and 6×6×6 cube puzzles in under one second using minimal-vertex-cover approach.

• 3d-tangram-solver Python - Hexagonal 3D wooden puzzle solver.

• Blokie JavaScript - Reusable Woodoku game engine with clean API.

• BlockBlast-Game-AI-Agent Python - OpenAI Gym environment for Block Blast research.

• gym-woodoku Python - Gymnasium environment with multiple game modes.

• libGDX - Used by Klooni1010 for cross-platform game development.

• Block Blast OCR Python - Perspective transform OCR achieving 99.5% accuracy:

  • No machine learning dependencies
  • Adaptive to screenshot angles
  • User calibration system

• tangram_solver Python - Computer vision pipeline for tangram recognition.

• Block Blast Training Python - Five sophisticated generation algorithms:

  1. Intelligent random generation
  2. Heuristic path search
  3. Reverse construction
  4. Path-dependency puzzles
  5. Hybrid with decoy traps

• block-puzzle-solver Java - RESTful API for puzzle generation.

• sc546/dlx Python - DLX solver with Graphviz visualization of search tree.

• polyomino-puzzle-solver JavaScript - Web-based interactive visualizer.

• block-puzzle-solver C++ - 3D visualization using point clouds and layer printing.

• Donald E. Knuth - "Dancing Links" (2000) - Seminal paper introducing Algorithm X and the Dancing Links technique.

• Polyomino Tiling Complexity - The problem of tiling arbitrary grids with polyominoes is NP-Complete.

• European Lisp Symposium '21 - Paper on geometric tiling in Common Lisp with constraint solving.

• Block Blast Training Documentation - Comprehensive algorithm analysis and strategy guides.

• Knuth's Algorithm X Explanation - Detailed mathematical foundation of exact cover solving.

• polyomino-solver - Interactive learning tool demonstrating polyomino algorithms.

• Artificial_Intelligence_Project1 Python - University AI course project with detailed educational documentation.

• Various YouTube tutorials on block puzzle implementation (search "block puzzle javascript tutorial", "1010 game development")

• Block Blast strategy guides and gameplay optimization

• GitHub Discussions - Most active projects host discussion boards:
  • Block Blast Training Discussions
  • Blokie Issues

This awesome list thrives on community contributions! We especially welcome:

✅ New game implementations in any programming language
✅ Novel solving algorithms and research
✅ Educational resources and tutorials
✅ Tools and libraries for puzzle generation/solving
✅ Research papers on complexity or AI approaches
✅ Community resources (Discord servers, forums, subreddits)

Before contributing:

1. Read the contribution guidelines
2. Ensure your project fits the scope (block/polyomino placement puzzles)
3. Verify it's not already listed
4. Choose the appropriate category
5. Write a clear, concise description
6. Test all links

• Reddit:

  • r/puzzles - General puzzle discussion including block puzzles
  • r/gamedev - Game development including puzzle games

• Discord Servers - Community servers welcome! (Submit via PR)

• GitHub Issues - Use this repo's issue tracker for suggestions or questions

• awesome-algorithms - Algorithm implementations and resources
• awesome-gamedev - Comprehensive game development resources
• awesome-rust-gamedev - Rust game development ecosystem
• awesome-typescript - TypeScript resources for web development
• awesome-cpp - C++ libraries and frameworks

📊 Current Status (February 2026):

• Total Resources: 90+
• Categories: 15
• Programming Languages: Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, Java, C++, Rust, C#, Common Lisp, Ruby, Go
• Game Variants Covered: Block Blast (8×8), 1010! (10×10), Woodoku (9×9), Blockudoku (9×9), Generic/Custom
• Algorithm Types: Reinforcement Learning, Heuristic Search, Genetic Algorithms, Dancing Links, Exact Cover, SAT Solvers

To the extent possible under law, all contributors have waived all copyright and related rights to this work.

Maintained with ❤️ by the block puzzle community

Last updated: February 2026 · Submit corrections or additions