How to play Filippine
A Filippine is a word puzzle with a hidden solution. Each row is a single word, and the rows are staggered so that one red column reads from top to bottom as the answer. Squares with the same number always hold the same letter, so every letter you find fills in all matching squares at once.
Filippine rules
- Each row is one word.
- The rows are shifted left or right so that one column, shown in red, lines up.
- Read from top to bottom, the red column spells the solution.
- Equal numbers are equal letters: a letter you put in one numbered square appears in every square with that number.
- Sometimes the red column simply holds the alphabet, and you can use it as a handhold.
How to solve a Filippine
Start with the words you are sure of
Don't work from the top down. Look through all the rows first and fill in the ones you can get with confidence. Every sure word puts letters in place that you can build on.
Let the numbers do the work
The numbers are what make a Filippine different from a plain list of words. When you find a letter in a numbered square, it shows up straight away in every other square with the same number, often in rows you haven't touched yet. A word that looked impossible may suddenly have three or four letters in it.
Read the red column as you go
Keep an eye on the red column. Once half of the solution is visible, you can often guess the rest, and each letter of the solution is also a letter in one of the rows. That works in both directions: rows help the solution, and the solution helps the rows.
Playing Filippine in Vellara
In Vellara you type the letters in yourself with the Type button. Check shows how you are doing, Hint reveals a letter when you are stuck, and Clear empties the grid. You can make the squares smaller or larger, or fit the whole puzzle to your screen.
Every Filippine is made on the spot, so you never get the same one twice.
There are five levels. The easiest has 8 rows of everyday words and lots of numbers; the hardest has 16 rows with rare words and only a few numbers. In between, the words get longer (up to twelve letters) and less common, and the more stars you choose, the fewer numbers you get to help you.
A clock runs while you play, but there is no time pressure. You can take as long as you like.
Filippine FAQ
What is a Filippine puzzle?
It is a word puzzle in which you solve a stack of words, one per row. The rows are staggered so that the letters in one column, shown in red, form a hidden solution.
What do the numbers in a Filippine mean?
Squares with the same number always contain the same letter. Fill in one of them and the letter appears in all the others, which gives you a head start on other words.
Do I need to find the solution word to finish?
The solution appears in the red column as you fill in the rows. Guessing it early is not required, but it is a handy way to get extra letters.
Will I ever get the same Filippine twice?
No. Vellara makes every Filippine on the spot, so each one is new.
Is Filippine free in Vellara?
Yes. Vellara is free to download and play, and you don't need an account.
Download Vellara
Vellara is free for iOS and Android, needs no account, works offline and never sends you notifications.