Game guide · YOUDIYOU
Understand the basics of River Crossing Puzzle
Keep the goal in view while choosing a move. Carry the wolf, goat and cabbage across the river without leaving an unsafe pair unattended. Start a new round when you are ready to try again. Everyone starts on the near bank. The farmer rows and can take at most one passenger. Keep the goal in mind before your next move.
The classic single wolf–goat–cabbage puzzle, with one-passenger boat and seven-crossing optimal solution. No claim of a large level collection.
Take a closer look while playing
The board gives you the information needed for the next action. Cross alone or take someone on the same bank as the farmer. Unsafe crossings are rejected before the state changes. The game area remains available above the explanation.
What you are aiming for
The example and rules describe the same game you can play above. Carry the wolf, goat and cabbage across the river without leaving an unsafe pair unattended.
Start here and follow along
- Everyone starts on the near bank. The farmer rows and can take at most one passenger.
- The wolf cannot stay with the goat without the farmer. The goat cannot stay with the cabbage without the farmer.
- Cross alone or take someone on the same bank as the farmer. Unsafe crossings are rejected before the state changes.
- Bring all four across. Use Undo or Restart to explore another sequence.
Input guidance
Take a moment to check the current turn. Choose Cross alone, Take Wolf, Take Goat or Take Cabbage. Buttons for passengers on the other bank are unavailable. Start a new round when you are ready to try again.
Put the rules into context
Use the controls beside the game rather than guessing the rules. Taking the goat first leaves the wolf with the cabbage, which is safe. Taking the wolf first would leave the goat with the cabbage and is refused. Start a new round when you are ready to try again.
One detail worth checking
Take a moment to check the current turn. The farmer sometimes must bring a passenger back. Only moving forward is not enough to solve the puzzle. Keep the goal in mind before your next move.
A few questions answered
On this page, what is the aim of River Crossing Puzzle?
Carry the wolf, goat and cabbage across the river without leaving an unsafe pair unattended. The instructions above use these same rules.
During a round, how do the controls work?
Choose Cross alone, Take Wolf, Take Goat or Take Cabbage. Buttons for passengers on the other bank are unavailable. The game is played locally in your browser.
On this page, can you show an example?
Taking the goat first leaves the wolf with the cabbage, which is safe. Taking the wolf first would leave the goat with the cabbage and is refused. The worked example offers another way to follow the rule.
When I start, which mistake should I avoid?
The farmer sometimes must bring a passenger back. Only moving forward is not enough to solve the puzzle. The game is played locally in your browser.
When I start, what rules and limits are used here?
The classic single wolf–goat–cabbage puzzle, with one-passenger boat and seven-crossing optimal solution. No claim of a large level collection. No download or player account is required.
How many people can play here?
Solo. This is local browser play, not internet matchmaking. You can start a new round from the game controls.
For this game, can the farmer travel alone?
Yes. Cross alone moves only the farmer and boat to the opposite bank. Keep the current game state in view while applying this rule.
During a round, why was my crossing refused?
It would leave the wolf with the goat or the goat with the cabbage without the farmer. The controls work with mouse or touch.
During a round, can I carry two passengers?
No. The boat holds the farmer and at most one passenger. A new round resets the current game.
For this game, how many crossings are needed?
The shortest solution uses seven crossings, including return trips. The instructions above use these same rules.
