How do you play Kakuro in Number Series?
Kakuro is a number crossword. Fill every white cell with a digit from 1 to 9 so that each run of cells adds up to the clue beside it, without repeating a digit inside a run. There is a new daily grid every day, and practice grids from 5×5 to 9×9.
The rules
The app teaches it in four cards:
- “A number crossword. Fill white cells with digits 1–9 so each run hits its sum.”
- “Each black cell can hold two sums — one for the row to the right, one for the column below.”
- “Within a single run, every digit must be different.”
- “Try candidate digits in pencil mode. Stuck? Use a hint — smart hints are free.”
A clue cell is split by a diagonal line: the number below the line is the sum of the cells underneath it; the number above the line is the sum of the cells to its right.
Controls
Tap a white cell to select it, then tap a digit on the keypad.
| Button | What it does |
|---|---|
| Undo | Takes back your last move |
| Erase | Clears the selected cell |
| Pencil | Switches to pencil marks — small candidate digits you can note in a cell |
| Hint | Opens the hint sheet (the badge shows how many you have left) |
The bar at the top shows your time, your error count and your streak day.
Hints
| Hint | Cost |
|---|---|
| Smart hint | ”Highlight a solvable run · free” — a short cooldown between uses |
| Show candidates | Adds 30 seconds to your time; 3 per daily grid, 5 per practice grid |
| Reveal digit | Adds 60 seconds; 1 per daily grid, 2 per practice grid |
With Premium, hints are unlimited with no time added, and there is an extra “Explain next step”. The finish screen shows your final time including any hint time.
Daily and Practice
- Play daily — one 5×5 grid a day, the same for everyone. Solve it to grow your Kakuro streak.
- Practice — choose the size (5×5, 7×7 or 9×9) and the difficulty (Easy, Medium or Hard). Best times are kept for each.
Tips for beginners
- Start with runs whose sum has only one possible set of digits — for example 3 in two cells can only be 1 + 2, and 24 in three cells can only be 7 + 8 + 9.
- Where a row and a column cross, the digit has to work for both — use one to rule out options in the other.
- Use pencil marks for cells with two or three candidates, then clear them as the grid fills in.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I lose a game of Kakuro?
- No. A wrong digit counts as an error — the cell shakes and the error counter goes up — but there is no fail state. Keep going until the grid is solved.
- Why can't I play the daily Kakuro again?
- The daily grid can be solved once a day ("Solved today · come back tomorrow"). Use Practice for as many grids as you like.
- What does the Kakuro freeze do?
- Kakuro has its own streak and its own monthly freeze, which covers exactly one missed day. Settings → Game shows whether it is available.
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