Game guide · LYFPL
The essentials of playing Kakurasu
Read the position before choosing your next action. Mark cells so every weighted row total and column total matches its clue. Keep the goal in mind before your next move. A 5×5 grid shows target sums at the right and bottom.
Generated 5×5 puzzles with an exact row-mask search for uniqueness before publication to the board. No calibrated difficulty labels.
Try a more deliberate round
Read the position before choosing your 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.
Understand the aim
Take a moment to check the current turn. Mark cells so every weighted row total and column total matches its clue. The game area remains available above the explanation.
How to proceed
- 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.
Input guidance
Check the rule below as you play. Tap a square to mark or clear it. Undo restores the last state. New puzzle generates another checked board. Keep the goal in mind before your next move.
An example before you play
Check the rule below as you play. 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. Start a new round when you are ready to try again.
Where a round can go wrong
The example and rules describe the same game you can play above. The value is the position in the row or column, not a uniform count of marked squares. Keep the goal in mind before your next move.
Questions about this game
When I start, what is the aim of Kakurasu?
Mark cells so every weighted row total and column total matches its clue. The game is played locally in your browser.
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. Scores here do not represent cash or prizes.
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. No download or player account is required.
During a round, which mistake should I avoid?
The value is the position in the row or column, not a uniform count of marked squares. Keep the current game state in view while applying this rule.
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. The instructions above use these same rules.
For this game, how many people can play here?
Solo. This is local browser play, not internet matchmaking. A new round resets the current game.
What does a marked square contribute?
Its column number to the row total, and its row number to the column total. No download or player account is required.
On this page, why can row and column contributions differ?
A square in row 2, column 5 contributes 5 to its row and 2 to its column. Keep the current game state in view while applying this rule.
During a round, does each generated puzzle have one solution?
The generator searches the row-mask combinations and only accepts a puzzle with exactly one solution. The worked example offers another way to follow the rule.
On this page, can I clear a square?
Yes. Tap a marked square again, or use Undo. No download or player account is required.
