# PentoMind - Pentomino Puzzles — Relaxing but challenging

> A challenging pentomino puzzle game with thousands of levels. (iPhone/iPad app by David P. Sumner.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pentomind-pentomino-puzzles/id320952194 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [David P. Sumner](https://appshunter.io/developer/320952197)
- Category: Games, Entertainment, Casual, Board
- Price: $0.99 (on sale, was $1.99)
- Rating: 4.90/5 from 35 App Store ratings · 18 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 13.0 · 21 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2009-07-04
- Data updated: 2026-09-06
- Monetization: paid
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pentomind-pentomino-puzzles/id320952194/reviews.md

## What is PentoMind?

Previously featured on Apple's What's Hot in Board Games for over three months and also in What's Hot in Puzzles.

"Pentos app is educational and addicting… the gameplay in Pentos is solid, self-explanatory, and definitely engaging.  You can play some easy ones while standing in line at the DMV, or...you may want to up the difficulty to help keep your mind strong and lively!"
Sara Haley, examiner.com

You have to see it to believe it. Relaxing, yet challenging.

• Smooth animated piece movement, with rotation and  flipping (in 3D).
• Thousands of puzzles!
• Choice of board and difficulty level.
• Hints for all puzzles.
• Option to time puzzles.
• All settings preserved if you quit the app; timing even resumes when you return.
• Shake to reset a puzzle; shake again to undo the reset. 

The puzzle consists of a rectangular checkerboard and twelve pieces called pentominoes. These pieces represent all the possible ways to arrange five unit squares together so that their edges align. Your objective is to cover the board using the pentominoes.

After you choose a board size and difficulty level, PentoMind will generate an appropriate new puzzle for you to solve.  Your job is then to place the pieces at teh bottom of the screen so that each white square of the board is covered by some pentomino.

You may choose to have your games timed. Then you can replay the same puzzle with a friend to see who can solve it the fastest. If you quit PentoMind during a timed game (or if you’re interrupted by a phone call), then the timing for the puzzle will resume the next time you start PentoMind.

Some puzzles may have more than one solution, in fact if you start with an empty board there may be hundreds or even thousands of possible solutions. The sole exception to this is the smallest board which has only a few solutions.

The pieces you may use are initially shown at the bottom of the screen, and you simply touch a piece to drag it onto the board. When you touch a piece, it will grow to a size that fits the dimensions of the squares on the board.

You may rotate a piece by tapping it, or you may flip it (in 3D) by double-tapping it. Alternatively, you may use buttons provided to rotate and flip the currently active piece. All piece movements are realistically animated. PentoMind is geared towards ease of use and playability.

Pieces are not allowed to overlap; should an overlap occur, a star icon will appear above one of the overlaps. 

To return a piece to its original spot at the bottom of the display, simply drag it down off the board.

You may reset a puzzle by shaking your iPhone/iPod, and if you shake it again before moving another piece but after a pause, the pieces will return to where you had them.

## Key features

- Smooth animated piece movement
- Rotation and flipping in 3D
- Thousands of puzzles
- Choice of board and difficulty
- Hints for all puzzles
- Option to time puzzles
- Shake to reset/undo

## Chart rankings

- #146 in Top Paid · Board (US App Store)

## Recent user reviews (10 of 18)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pentomind-pentomino-puzzles/id320952194/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Good training

*2025-01-02*

Well designed scheme for progressively learning how 
to discover solutions to this famous puzzle. It works by presenting you with a partially filled grid and the remaining pieces. You do the rest. At level 1, 7 of the pieces are in place (the 35 squares they occupy are all filled in with one colour distinct from that of the remaining pieces) and the remaining 5 pieces are laid out ready to put in place. You rotate and flip them as needed. At Level 2, 6 pieces (30 squares) are filled in with 6 pieces to play and so on up to level 7 with an entirely empty grid and all 12 pieces to play.
Really good way to become familiar with and get to know the patterns of the pieces. After a while you learn to recognise in advance what my work and what are going to be dead ends. 
Easy to use with simple self explanatory controls. I thoroughly enjoy it.

### 5/5 — A Great Challenge and Fun Also!

*2021-06-20*

Looking for one of the best ways to keep your mind
active and still have fun? THIS IS IT! With so many
apps to choose from - start here.

### 5/5 — like Tetris but even better in some ways

*2018-11-19*

PentoMind is a great app for passing time while standing in line or waiting for an appointment. It has elements of Tetris but is more self-paced, so interruptions are not problematic. It’s a fun way to take your mind off of the stresses of the day.

### 5/5 — Luv Luv Luv Your Puzzle!!!!!!

*2013-04-11*

I really Luv your puzzle!!!!!!!   It is fun and entertaining.   Please, please, please do mover levels.  I really enjoy doing these types of puzzles and want to continue to do so.  Keep up the great work!!!!!!

### 5/5 — Excellent brain workout

*2012-08-25*

This pentomino puzzle keeps me entertained for hours. It really challenges my brain. Excellent, easy to use app. Very well designed. Highly recommended.

### 5/5 — Simple, Nice ,Adictive !

*2011-06-02*

Schlicht , minimalistisch aber gerade das
macht den eigenen Charm dieses Pentominos-Puzzler ! 
Endlos viele Brainteaser-Puzzles lassen sich generieren , lösen und in den Optionen variieren und anpassen !

Klein und unscheinbar,aber fein für Puzzlefreunde !
Macht süchtig !
: )

### 4/5 — not good

*2011-02-10*

game is fun half supported retina

graphic is  bad

### 4/5 — Good, solid puzzle game

*2011-01-24*

This puzzle game is easy to get started playing, and has a good range of difficulties.  The graphics are good, and the controls generally work well.

### 5/5 — Excellent puzzle game

*2010-11-29*

It's a lot like Zentomino. I like the "Zen" setting a bit more but the puzzle layout and Easy, Medium, Hard settings make this more versatile. A must have for any puzzler.

### 4/5 — Good simple yet complex puzzle game

*2010-11-08*

Good graphics and fun to play

## Frequently asked questions about PentoMind

### What is PentoMind?

PentoMind is a puzzle game where you use twelve pentomino pieces to cover a rectangular checkerboard. It's designed to be both relaxing and mentally challenging.

### How many puzzles are available in PentoMind?

PentoMind offers thousands of puzzles, providing a vast amount of content for players to enjoy.

### Can I adjust the difficulty in PentoMind?

Yes, PentoMind allows you to choose the board size and difficulty level, tailoring the challenge to your preference.

### Does PentoMind offer hints?

Yes, hints are available for all puzzles in PentoMind to help players who get stuck.

### Can I time my PentoMind games?

Yes, PentoMind has an option to time your puzzles, allowing you to compete against yourself or others for the fastest solution. Timing even resumes if you quit and return to the app.

### What devices does PentoMind support?

PentoMind is supported on iPhone and iPod devices.

### Is PentoMind suitable for all ages?

PentoMind has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for a wide range of players.

### How often is PentoMind updated?

The latest version of PentoMind is 3.4, and it was last updated on December 16, 2022.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 3.4 — 2022-12-16

Bug Fixes

### 3.3 — 2021-10-19

Improved icons.
Fixed celebration bug.

### 3.2 — 2021-10-08

Cosmetic Changes.
Fixed bug where choosing a new piece set can hang.

### 3.0 — 2019-09-03

Cosmetic Changes.
Bug Fixes.
Improved responsiveness.
thousands of free puzzles at 8 levels on 3 boards.

### 2.8 — 2017-10-26

On Sale for a week
Modifications for new iPhones 
Several bug fixes

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## More apps by David P. Sumner

- [Circular Tic Tac Toe](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/circular-tic-tac-toe/id386563778)
- [Peg Pals – Triangle Solitaire](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/peg-pals-triangle-solitaire/id468305550)
- [Tactical Checkers](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tactical-checkers/id1082164599)
- [Morse Code Trainer & Practice](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/morse-code-trainer-and-practice/id6748040912)

All apps by David P. Sumner: https://appshunter.io/developer/320952197

## Related topics

[polyomino](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/polyomino)

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-06.*
