Game guide · XINNINGBAO
How to play Kakurasu
The board gives you the information needed for the next action. Mark cells so every weighted row total and column total matches its clue. Try the rule on the board, then read the next instruction. 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.
A small practice goal
The example and rules describe the same game you can play above. 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 the game asks you to do
Take a moment to check the current turn. Mark cells so every weighted row total and column total matches its clue. Keep the goal in mind before your next move.
The steps to play
- 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.
How to use the controls
Keep the goal in view while choosing a move. Tap a square to mark or clear it. Undo restores the last state. New puzzle generates another checked board.
An example to follow
The example and rules describe the same game you can play above. 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.
Watch out for this
Read the position before choosing your next 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.
Read these answers for extra help
When I start, what is the aim of Kakurasu?
Mark cells so every weighted row total and column total matches its clue. The controls work with mouse or touch.
When I start, how do the controls work?
Tap a square to mark or clear it. Undo restores the last state. New puzzle generates another checked board. The instructions above use these same rules.
On this page, 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. You can start a new round from the game controls.
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.
When I start, 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. A new round resets the current game.
How many people can play here?
Solo. This is local browser play, not internet matchmaking. Scores here do not represent cash or prizes.
For this game, what does a marked square contribute?
Its column number to the row total, and its row number to the column total. Use the labelled controls for your next action.
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. The worked example offers another way to follow the rule.
When I start, does each generated puzzle have one solution?
The generator searches the row-mask combinations and only accepts a puzzle with exactly one solution. The instructions above use these same rules.
When I start, can I clear a square?
Yes. Tap a marked square again, or use Undo. The game is played locally in your browser.
