How to Play The Boolean Game

Updated

The Boolean Game is a browser-based puzzle game that teaches boolean operations used in vector editors like Adobe Illustrator, Sketch, and Figma. You play by applying one of four operations — union, subtract, intersect, or difference — to shapes on each stage until the result matches the target. It runs directly on boolean.method.ac with no stated account requirement, and the page lists a "Buy me a coffee" link, so treat any pricing as unconfirmed rather than assuming it is free.

What you actually do in a stage

Each stage presents shapes and a goal shape. Your job is to pick the boolean operation that transforms the current shapes into the target. The four operations available in the game are:

  • Union — combines shapes into one
  • Subtract — removes one shape from another
  • Intersect — keeps only the overlapping area
  • Difference — keeps the non-overlapping parts

You select an operation, apply it, and check whether the result matches the target. If it doesn't, you adjust.

Controls you'll use

The game exposes a small set of controls during play:

Control What it does
Start Over Resets the current stage attempt
Undo Reverses your last action
Play again Restarts a stage after finishing
Share stage Produces a shareable link to a stage
Continue Moves forward, typically after completing a stage

These are the actions listed on the page, so expect them as your main navigation and correction tools.

Adjusting the game to your preference

Game settings let you change how the game behaves:

  • Sound — toggle sound on or off
  • Animation speed — choose from 0.5×, .75×, 1×, 1.5×, or 2×, with slower/faster arrows to move between them
  • Tutorials — tutorials on, covering the operations
  • Game data — a "Reset to factory settings" option that erases all data as if you had never played

If animations feel distracting or too slow, the speed setting is the first thing to change.

A practical way to start

  1. Open boolean.method.ac in your browser.
  2. If you're new to boolean operations, turn tutorials on in game settings first.
  3. Work through stages in order — each one asks you to choose among union, subtract, intersect, and difference.
  4. Use Undo freely; it's there so you can experiment without penalty.
  5. If a stage goes wrong, hit Start Over rather than guessing repeatedly.
  6. When you finish a stage, use Play again to retry or Continue to move on.

Common sticking points

  • Confusing subtract and difference. Subtract removes one shape from another; difference keeps the parts that don't overlap. If your result looks inverted from what you expected, you likely picked the wrong one.
  • Forgetting Undo exists. New players often restart a whole stage when a single undo would fix it.
  • Skipping tutorials. The tutorial setting is off by default in many sessions; if the operations aren't clicking, turn it on before grinding through stages.

The game's own stats and stage list are visible on the page, so you can track progress as you go.