Game guide · MAIKEWU
Kakurasu: instructions and practice
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. 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 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.
Your objective
Use the controls beside the game rather than guessing the rules. Mark cells so every weighted row total and column total matches its clue.
Work through the instructions
- 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.
Using the playing area
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. The game area remains available above the explanation.
Put the rules into context
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.
Keep this in mind
Keep the goal in view while choosing a move. 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 that come up during play
During a round, what is the aim of Kakurasu?
Mark cells so every weighted row total and column total matches its clue. The worked example offers another way to follow the rule.
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. No download or player account is required.
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. 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. You can start a new round from the game controls.
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. Scores here do not represent cash or prizes.
When I start, 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. The game is played locally in your browser.
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.
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. A new round resets the current game.