About Route 81

Route 81 is a free daily Pokémon logic puzzle that you play in your browser, on your phone or computer, with nothing to install.

The idea

Grid puzzles where every square sits where two rules cross are a great way to test how well you really know the Pokédex. Route 81 takes that idea and builds out from it: a full 9×9 board, which is where the name comes from (81 squares), plus modes that turn the puzzle around.

• Daily gives everyone the same board each day, then shows how your answers compare with everyone else's, so the rarest correct pick is worth bragging about.
• Draft lets you build a board from just the categories you want, at any size.
• Reverse hands you a finished grid and asks you to work out the hidden rules.

Along the way you fill a Pokédex of every Pokémon you've correctly used, build up a Category Index in Reverse mode, and keep a daily streak. Every correct pick also has a 1 in 4,096 chance of being shiny, the same odds as the modern games.

New to it? How to play covers the rules, tips, and every category a board can use.

How boards are made

Every board is generated from a dataset of over a thousand Pokémon and forms, and checked before you ever see it: the generator only accepts a board if all 81 squares can be filled at once with 81 different Pokémon. Each square always has an answer, even if it takes some digging to find.

Accounts and saving

You can play without an account; your progress is saved in your browser. Make a free account (email or Google) and your Pokédex, streak and stats follow you across devices. See Privacy for exactly what's stored.

Keeping it free

Route 81 is free to play and is supported by ads. They sit around the board, never over it, and a rewarded ad is only ever shown when you choose one, such as watching an ad for an extra life.

Who makes it

Route 81 is an independent fan project, designed and built by one developer who grew up on the handheld games. Bugs, ideas and category requests are all welcome at [email protected].

Credits

Pokémon data comes from PokéAPI. Sprites are from Pokémon Black & White and the Smogon sprite projects, via the PokeAPI sprites repository. The Route 81 sign, grass and icons are original pixel art.

Route 81 is not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to Nintendo, Game Freak, Creatures Inc. or The Pokémon Company. Pokémon and all related names are trademarks of their respective owners.