How to play Fill-In
A Fill-In is a word puzzle without clues. You get an empty grid and a list of words (sometimes numbers), and every entry on the list has to go into the grid exactly once. The only things that tell you where an entry belongs are its length and the letters it shares with the words that cross it.
Fill-In rules
- Every word on the list goes into the grid exactly once.
- There are no clues. Each word has to fit its slot exactly, letter for letter.
- Where an across slot and a down slot cross, both words must have the same letter in that square.
- One word is already filled in to give you a starting point.
- There is only one way for everything to fit.
How to solve a Fill-In
Start with lengths that appear only once
Count the letters in each slot and compare them with the list. If there is only one seven-letter word and only one seven-letter slot, that word can go straight in. These sure placements give you letters in the crossing slots, and that is where the real progress starts.
Use the crossings
Every letter you place cuts down the choices for the slots that run through it. Say a five-letter slot now starts with R: of all the five-letter words on the list, only the ones beginning with R are still in the running. Often that leaves just one. Keep working outwards from the word you were given, one crossing at a time.
Cross off what you have placed
Keep track of which words are used up. In longer lists you often get several words of the same length, and it's easy to lose track of which ones are still waiting. The shorter the list of remaining words, the faster each new slot falls into place. If a word seems to fit in two places, leave it for now and come back once more crossings are filled in.
Playing Fill-In in Vellara
In Vellara you play Fill-In by tapping. Tap a square to pick a slot. If an across slot and a down slot both run through that square, tap again to switch between them. Then tap a word in the list to put it in. To take a word out again, tap it once more. One entry is already in the grid when you start.
The grid can be made smaller or larger, or fitted to your screen, so the letters are always comfortable to read.
You choose from five levels. The easiest is a 9×9 grid with a handful of entries; the hardest is a 13×13 grid, the largest in this puzzle, with many more crossings to work through. Whatever level you pick, there is always exactly one way for all the words to fit.
A clock runs while you play, but there is no time pressure: take as long as you like over each word.
Fill-In FAQ
What is the difference between a Fill-In and a crossword?
A crossword gives you a clue for every answer and you have to think of the word yourself. In a Fill-In you already have all the words; the puzzle is working out where each one goes.
Where should I start a Fill-In puzzle?
Start with the given word and with any word length that occurs only once on the list. Those entries can only go in one place, and their letters open up the slots that cross them.
Is there always only one solution?
Yes. Every Fill-In in Vellara has exactly one way for all the entries to fit, so you can solve it by reasoning rather than trial and error.
Can a Fill-In contain numbers instead of words?
Yes, the list can contain numbers as well as words. The rules stay the same: each entry goes in once, and the digits in the crossings have to match.
Is the Fill-In in Vellara free?
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.