Game guide · CXCWGS
The essentials of playing River Crossing Puzzle
Carry the wolf, goat and cabbage across the river without leaving an unsafe pair unattended. 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.
Bring this focus to a round
Use the controls beside the game rather than guessing the rules. 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 need to achieve
Carry the wolf, goat and cabbage across the river without leaving an unsafe pair unattended.
How to proceed
- 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.
Making selections and moves
The board gives you the information needed for the next action. Choose Cross alone, Take Wolf, Take Goat or Take Cabbage. Buttons for passengers on the other bank are unavailable. Try the rule on the board, then read the next instruction.
See how the rules apply
Read the position before choosing your next action. 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.
Watch out for this
Use the controls beside the game rather than guessing the rules. 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
What is the aim of River Crossing Puzzle?
Carry the wolf, goat and cabbage across the river without leaving an unsafe pair unattended. The controls work with mouse or touch.
For this game, how do the controls work?
Choose Cross alone, Take Wolf, Take Goat or Take Cabbage. Buttons for passengers on the other bank are unavailable. A new round resets the current game.
During a round, 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 instructions above use these same rules.
During a round, which mistake should I avoid?
The farmer sometimes must bring a passenger back. Only moving forward is not enough to solve the puzzle. You can start a new round from the game controls.
On this page, 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. You can start a new round from the game controls.
For this game, how many people can play here?
Solo. This is local browser play, not internet matchmaking. Keep the current game state in view while applying this rule.
On this page, can the farmer travel alone?
Yes. Cross alone moves only the farmer and boat to the opposite bank. The instructions above use these same rules.
On this page, why was my crossing refused?
It would leave the wolf with the goat or the goat with the cabbage without the farmer. No download or player account is required.
When I start, can I carry two passengers?
No. The boat holds the farmer and at most one passenger. No download or player account is required.
How many crossings are needed?
The shortest solution uses seven crossings, including return trips. A new round resets the current game.