Outlier
Outlier is an odd one out puzzle. You see six tiles of shapes. Five of them share a hidden trait, such as the same shape, colour, fill or number of shapes. One tile breaks it. Tap that one.
- SkillFocus
- Ages8 and up
- Par time8 seconds
- PriceFree, no ads
How to play Outlier
- Look at all six tiles before you tap anything.
- Check one trait at a time: shape, colour, filled or hollow, and how many shapes sit on the tile.
- When exactly one tile differs on a trait, that is your answer. Tap it.
How it gets harder
Decoys are what make Outlier tricky. Other traits are split three and three, so several tiles look different without being the answer. On higher levels there are more decoys, and the real difference moves to subtle traits like fill or a count that is off by one.
Tips
- A trait split three against three is never the answer. Rule it out and move on.
- Count the shapes on each tile last. It is the trait people check least and the one higher levels use most.
Playing Outlier as a family
There is nothing to read, so a seven-year-old and a grandparent start equal. Children are often faster, because they look at the tiles instead of guessing what the trick is.
Outlier is also one of the thirteen games in the Brainpilates daily mix. On days it comes up, everyone plays the same board, and you can send your result to someone as a challenge to beat.
Questions about Outlier
- Is there always exactly one answer?
- Yes. Every board is generated so that only one tile breaks a shared trait. The other differences are split evenly and cannot form a second answer.
- What age is Outlier for?
- Eight and up works well, and younger children can play with help. The early levels use loud differences like shape and colour.