Islands Online
Play Islands free on JAWNA with friends in a browser, no download. Share a private table link, enjoy voice chat, or use the iPhone and Android app.
Why play Islands on JAWNA?
- Mic and voice chat right at the Islands table: talk to the other players while you play.
- Quick match finds you a table with new people fast, or make a private table and send your friends the link.
- No download: it runs in the browser on phone and computer, and there is a JAWNA phone app too.
- Arabic first, with English. Made for the Gulf and the Arab world.
- Free. Extras (table and card looks) are optional, with coins.
- 100+ games in one place: Baloot, Jackaroo, Kout, Tarneeb, Hand, Konkan, Ludo, Dominoes and more.
- Fair play: reports, bans and moderators.
Islands: goal and players
Play Islands online on JAWNA at jawna.app. Check the goal and supported player counts before inviting your group. Read the rules even if you know the game: familiar names can have different variants, and your usual house rules may differ from the selected version.
Supported table sizes: 2, 3 or 4 players. Choose a player count in the game settings. In partner variants, check seats and teams first. In individual formats, each player competes for their own result. The in-game How to play screen provides details. Agree on the variant before your first round together.
How to play: rules
- Flood squares with sea so that every number sits on its own island of exactly that many squares. An island is a group of sand squares joined side to side, with one number in it.
- All the sea must be joined into one body (side to side), and the sea may never fill a 2×2 block.
- Tap a square to flood it with sea. Tap again to mark it as sand with a shell, and once more to clear it. Long-press marks a shell straight away, and the Sand pen makes every tap a shell. Drag to paint several squares at once.
- Shells are only notes for you: the puzzle is solved the moment your sea is right.
- An island that is exactly its number glows. A closed-off island that is too small, or a 2×2 pool of sea, shows red. Nothing else is checked as you play, so there are no penalties for trying things.
- Tips: squares between two numbers are sea. A 1 is surrounded by sea. Squares no number can reach are sea.
- Everyone gets the same puzzle at the same moment and plays at once. The first to finish wins.
- You see how far the others are, never their boards. When the clock runs out (7 or 12 minutes), everyone is ranked by how much of the sea they have right. Every puzzle has exactly one answer and can be solved by logic alone.
Scoring and winning
An island that is exactly its number glows. A closed-off island that is too small, or a 2×2 pool of sea, shows red. Nothing else is checked as you play, so there are no penalties for trying things.
Everyone gets the same puzzle at the same moment and plays at once. The first to finish wins.
Tips and strategy
Check the win condition and the legal options before each move. Rules and results depend on the selected mode; agree on the format before starting.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I play Islands online with a mic?
On JAWNA (jawna.app). Every Islands table has a mic and voice chat, so you talk to the players while you play.
Where can I play Islands with new people?
On JAWNA pick Islands and tap Quick match to get players fast, or make a private table for your friends.
Do I need to download an app to play Islands?
No. Open jawna.app in the browser on your phone or computer and play right away. There is also a JAWNA phone app if you like.
Is there a free app for Islands?
You can start on JAWNA and play in a browser for free. Optional in-app extras are available; review any purchase option before choosing it. The download page lists current mobile installation options.
How many people can play Islands on JAWNA?
The available player counts are 2, 3 or 4 players. Pick the format that fits your group before starting; a game with multiple supported sizes does not necessarily support every number between them.
How do you win at Islands?
You see how far the others are, never their boards. When the clock runs out (7 or 12 minutes), everyone is ranked by how much of the sea they have right. Every puzzle has exactly one answer and can be solved by logic alone.
How do I invite friends to Islands?
Create a private table from the game and share its link with friends. Check that everyone has chosen the same game and the seats suit your group before starting, particularly when a partner is involved.
Do I have to use my microphone?
Table voice chat is available when you allow microphone access. Check your microphone and mute state before talking, and respect the other players’ privacy and the community rules.
Are the Islands rules the same as our house rules?
Some details or variants may differ. Read the summary and the in-game How to play screen together, then agree on the variant. The rules of the selected mode determine the round.
Can a beginner learn Islands on JAWNA?
Start with the instructions and play with friends who know the game. Understand the goal and scoring before concentrating on advanced moves or speed.
Where can I find other games for my group?
Open JAWNA’s games directory and choose by player count and game idea. There are card games, board games and puzzles, so you can switch according to your time, group size and preferred challenge.
Start a session with friends
Use Play now, sign in, then choose a private table and share its link, or select Quick match where available.
Related games
How to play – step by step
- Islands and one sea – Flood squares with sea so each number sits on its own island of exactly that many squares. All the sea is joined, and it never fills a 2×2 block.
- Tap to flood – Tap a square to flood it. Tap again for a shell (a sand note), once more to clear. A 1 is always ringed by sea.
- No 2×2 pools – A finished island glows. A 2×2 pool of sea, or a closed island that is too small, turns red. Nothing else is checked, so try freely.
- First right sea wins – Everyone gets the same puzzle at once. The first to finish wins. When time runs out, the most sea right wins.
History & origins
Islands uses the Nurikabe puzzle tradition published by Nikoli in Japan. Its Japanese name comes from a wall-like folklore figure.
The puzzle separates numbered islands with one connected sea, combining local size clues with a global connection requirement.
Its history belongs to modern logic publishing. Jawna uses that sea-and-islands structure for players racing to solve the same generated board.