Game guide · 92SYH
A practical guide to Kakurasu
Read the position before choosing your next action. Mark cells so every weighted row total and column total matches its clue. The game area remains available above the explanation. A 5×5 grid shows target sums at the right and bottom. Keep the goal in mind before your next move.
Generated 5×5 puzzles with an exact row-mask search for uniqueness before publication to the board. No calibrated difficulty labels.
Practice with a purpose
The board gives you the information needed for the next action. Tap cells to mark or clear them. Current totals are displayed alongside the target totals. Keep the goal in mind before your next move.
What you need to achieve
Use the controls beside the game rather than guessing the rules. Mark cells so every weighted row total and column total matches its clue. Start a new round when you are ready to try again.
Start here and follow along
- A 5×5 grid shows target sums at the right and bottom.
- A marked cell contributes its column number to its row sum, and its row number to its column sum.
- Tap cells to mark or clear them. Current totals are displayed alongside the target totals.
- Match all rows and columns to complete the puzzle. Each generated puzzle is checked to have one solution.
Keyboard and screen controls
Take a moment to check the current turn. Tap a square to mark or clear it. Undo restores the last state. New puzzle generates another checked board.
Try this example
Begin with the basic rule, then follow the result of your action. Marking columns 2 and 5 in the same row gives that row a total of 7. A mark in row 3 contributes 3 to its column. Keep the goal in mind before your next move.
An important reminder
Begin with the basic rule, then follow the result of your action. The value is the position in the row or column, not a uniform count of marked squares. Try the rule on the board, then read the next instruction.
Clarifying the way this game works
For this game, what is the aim of Kakurasu?
Mark cells so every weighted row total and column total matches its clue. The instructions above use these same rules.
During a round, how do the controls work?
Tap a square to mark or clear it. Undo restores the last state. New puzzle generates another checked board. Use the labelled controls for your next action.
For this game, can you show an example?
Marking columns 2 and 5 in the same row gives that row a total of 7. A mark in row 3 contributes 3 to its column. Keep the current game state in view while applying this rule.
On this page, which mistake should I avoid?
The value is the position in the row or column, not a uniform count of marked squares. The instructions above use these same rules.
On this page, what rules and limits are used here?
Generated 5×5 puzzles with an exact row-mask search for uniqueness before publication to the board. No calibrated difficulty labels. Keep the current game state in view while applying this rule.
For this game, how many people can play here?
Solo. This is local browser play, not internet matchmaking. Use the labelled controls for your next action.
For this game, what does a marked square contribute?
Its column number to the row total, and its row number to the column total. A new round resets the current game.
During a round, why can row and column contributions differ?
A square in row 2, column 5 contributes 5 to its row and 2 to its column. A new round resets the current game.
For this game, does each generated puzzle have one solution?
The generator searches the row-mask combinations and only accepts a puzzle with exactly one solution. No download or player account is required.
On this page, can I clear a square?
Yes. Tap a marked square again, or use Undo. The worked example offers another way to follow the rule.
