Game guide · HNSGYQT
Making your first moves in Kakurasu
Keep the goal in view while choosing a move. 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.
Something to practise
Use the controls beside the game rather than guessing the rules. Tap cells to mark or clear them. Current totals are displayed alongside the target totals. The game area remains available above the explanation.
The purpose of your moves
Begin with the basic rule, then follow the result of your action. Mark cells so every weighted row total and column total matches its clue. The game area remains available above the explanation.
From the start of a round
- 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.
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. Start a new round when you are ready to try again.
Learn from a sample situation
The board gives you the information needed for the next 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. Start a new round when you are ready to try again.
Check this before moving on
The board gives you the information needed for the next action. The value is the position in the row or column, not a uniform count of marked squares.
Common questions
On this page, what is the aim of Kakurasu?
Mark cells so every weighted row total and column total matches its clue. No download or player account is required.
For this game, 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.
When I start, 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. A new round resets the current game.
For this game, which mistake should I avoid?
The value is the position in the row or column, not a uniform count of marked squares. Use the labelled controls for your next action.
For this game, 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. The instructions above use these same rules.
On this page, what does a marked square contribute?
Its column number to the row total, and its row number to the column total. The instructions above use these same rules.
For this game, why can row and column contributions differ?
A square in row 2, column 5 contributes 5 to its row and 2 to its column. The game is played locally in your browser.
Does each generated puzzle have one solution?
The generator searches the row-mask combinations and only accepts a puzzle with exactly one solution. You can start a new round from the game controls.
During a round, can I clear a square?
Yes. Tap a marked square again, or use Undo. The game is played locally in your browser.