Color Sorting

About Color Sorting

Color Sorting is a logic-based puzzle where the challenge lies in arranging a shuffled gradient of colors back into their correct order. The game presents a single continuous color gradient broken into tiles, some of which are pinned in place to anchor the sequence. These pinned tiles, especially in the corners, serve as fixed reference points, so each tile has exactly one position it belongs to, allowing you to solve the puzzle by reading the color flow rather than guessing.

To play, you swap tiles by dragging one onto another or tapping two tiles in sequence. The goal is to restore the smooth progression of color across the board. You can choose from three difficulty sizes—5×4, 7×5, or 9×6—each offering a varied level of complexity. For added help, an optional hint feature suggests an optimal move, and undo and reset functions enable experimentation without penalty.

The game uses a color space called OKLab to ensure that the gradient steps appear uniform and natural to the eye. Additionally, accessibility is considered by filtering out red-green combinations and offering a color-blind mode, helping players with color vision differences enjoy the challenge.

Unlike typical color sorting games that may involve pouring or matching colors, Color Sorting relies purely on placement and logic. There is no time limit, letting you focus on thoughtful moves. Each puzzle also has a computed par number representing the minimum swaps needed for completion, offering a clear target to beat. This makes it an engaging and brain-teasing experience for those who enjoy color-based puzzles and logic games.

How to Play

Desktop and mobile: drag a tile onto another to trade the two, or tap (click) a tile and then a second one.
Pinned tiles never move — they are what fix the gradient.
Undo takes back one swap, Reset returns to the shuffle, Hint plays an optimal swap, New puzzle deals a fresh board.
Goal: put the shuffled gradient back in order until colour flows evenly across the whole board. Par is the fewest swaps that can finish it, and there is no time limit.