Puzzle roundup

Number Puzzles

A broad quick-reference guide to number puzzles, from Sudoku and Kakuro to sum grids, counting clues and numbered path puzzles.

Number puzzles are puzzles where digits, totals, counts, orders or numbered clues do the heavy lifting. Some ask you to place digits, some ask you to add or multiply, and others use numbers as clues for shading, drawing, connecting or counting.

Number puzzles list

The list is grouped by how the numbers are used. Linked names open playable puzzle pages; unlinked names stay in the guide as useful reference entries.

Classic number grid puzzles

Classic number grid puzzles are the familiar digit-placement, total, inequality and counting grids most people mean when they search for number puzzles. This section targets logic number puzzles and printable or online number puzzles such as Sudoku, Kakuro, Futoshiki, Skyscrapers, Binary and other grid-based puzzles where numbers are the main solving material.

Sudoku

Fill a 9x9 grid with digits 1 to 9 so every row, column and region contains each digit once.

Killer Sudoku

Combine normal Sudoku placement with dotted cages whose digits must add to the given totals.

Kakuro

Fill crossword-like runs with non-repeating digits so each across and down run matches its sum clue.

Futoshiki

Place numbers in a Latin-square grid while using greater-than and less-than signs between cells.

KenKen

Use arithmetic cages and no-repeat row and column rules to complete a compact number grid.

Calcudoku

Combine Latin-square no-repeat logic with cages that use arithmetic operations and target values.

Suko

Place the digits 1 to 9 so each marked circle and coloured region reaches its required total.

Suguru

Fill irregular regions with digits while keeping matching numbers apart, including diagonally.

Skyscrapers

Arrange tower heights so each outside clue sees exactly the right number of visible buildings.

Hidato

Build one consecutive path of numbers through the grid, using the given numbers as anchors.

Numbrix

Build a consecutive number path through the grid using horizontal and vertical steps.

Binary Puzzle

Fill the grid with two symbols while balancing rows and columns and preventing three-in-a-row repeats.

Str8ts

Place digits in straight consecutive runs while using row and column restrictions.

Latin Squares

Fill a grid so each symbol appears once in every row and column, without Sudoku boxes.

Thermometers

Enter digits so every thermometer rises from bulb to tip while still satisfying the grid rules.

Fillomino

Divide the grid into regions whose size matches their numbers, while equal-sized regions cannot touch.

Hitori

Shade repeated numbers until every row and column is unique, with all unshaded cells still connected.

Kuromasu

Shade cells so each numbered cell sees the required count of white cells in straight lines.

Ripple Effect / Hakyuu

Fill rooms with numbers while keeping equal numbers far enough apart according to their value.

Crossnumber

Fill a crossword-like number grid from arithmetic clues rather than word definitions.

Sudoku number puzzle variants

Sudoku number puzzle variants keep the no-repeat row, column and region logic but add extra constraints such as irregular regions, cages, arrows, diagonals, thermometers or outside clues. This group is for solvers searching for Sudoku variants, Sudoku-style number puzzles and harder digit logic puzzles that still feel close to standard Sudoku.

Jigsaw Sudoku / Irregular Sudoku

Use irregularly shaped regions instead of standard 3x3 boxes while keeping Sudoku row and column logic.

Samurai Sudoku

Solve five overlapping Sudoku grids where shared regions force deductions across the whole layout.

X Sudoku / Diagonal Sudoku

Add the two main diagonals as extra no-repeat lines, giving the puzzle more long-range constraints.

Hyper Sudoku / Windoku

Use four extra offset regions as additional no-repeat boxes inside the familiar Sudoku grid.

Mini Sudoku

Play a smaller Sudoku grid with shorter rows and regions, useful for quick practice or beginners.

Wordoku

Replace digits with letters or symbols while preserving the same no-repeat Sudoku structure.

Arrow Sudoku

Use arrow sums to restrict which digits can sit on each marked line and circle.

Sandwich Sudoku

Read outside clues showing the sum of digits placed between 1 and 9 in each row or column.

Kropki Sudoku

Use black and white dots between cells to track double, half and consecutive number relationships.

Thermo Sudoku

Place digits so every thermometer rises from bulb to tip while still satisfying Sudoku rules.

Greater Than Sudoku

Follow inequality signs between neighbouring cells to narrow the possible Sudoku digits.

Consecutive Sudoku

Use markers or rules about neighbouring consecutive digits to shape each Sudoku placement.

XV Sudoku

Use X and V edge clues to mark neighbouring pairs that sum to 10 or 5.

Even-Odd Sudoku

Use shaded or marked cells to separate even and odd digits before finishing the Sudoku grid.

Anti-Knight Sudoku

Forbid matching digits a chess knight's move apart, adding spatial restrictions to Sudoku.

Anti-King Sudoku

Forbid matching digits in diagonally touching cells, making local Sudoku placements tighter.

Little Killer Sudoku

Use diagonal outside sums that point into the grid and constrain long digit runs.

Palindrome Sudoku

Treat marked lines as palindromes, so matching positions along each line must contain equal digits.

Outside Sudoku

Use outside clues to show which digits appear first from each edge of the grid.

Product Sudoku

Use product clues to restrict pairs or groups of Sudoku digits through multiplication.

Sum Sudoku

Use extra sum clues to control selected Sudoku cells, regions or lines.

Arithmetic and sum number puzzles

Arithmetic and sum number puzzles are math puzzles where totals, products, cage operations, target numbers or crossnumber-style clues drive the solve. This section covers sum puzzles, arithmetic grid puzzles, math logic puzzles and number puzzles like Kakuro, KenKen, Calcudoku, Magic Square, Cross Sums and other total-based games.

Cross Sums

Solve Kakuro-style across and down sums in a crossword-like grid of digit runs.

Mathdoku

Solve a KenKen-style arithmetic grid using cage operations, totals and no-repeat rows and columns.

Kendoku

Use arithmetic cages and Latin-square placement rules in a puzzle closely related to KenKen.

Killer KenKen

Blend KenKen arithmetic cages with extra killer-style totals for a denser number puzzle.

KenKen No-Op

Use cage target numbers without operation signs, so the arithmetic relationship must be inferred.

Kakuro Mini

Play a smaller cross-sum grid where short runs make Kakuro combinations easier to inspect.

Killer Kakuro

Add extra cage or killer-style constraints to Kakuro's crossing sum structure.

Calcrostic

Use arithmetic answers to fill entries that reveal a hidden phrase or structured number grid.

Crossmath

Complete arithmetic equations laid out in a grid, balancing rows, columns or intersecting sums.

Addition Crosswords

Fill number entries so crossing addition clues and digit placements agree.

Target Sum

Choose numbers or positions that combine to a required total under the puzzle's constraints.

Fubuki

Place digits in a small grid so each row and column reaches its outside sum clue.

Magic Square

Arrange numbers so every row, column and diagonal reaches the same magic total.

Number Pyramid

Fill a stacked triangle where each number is built from the values directly below it.

Sumplete

Delete numbers from a grid so the remaining row and column totals match their targets.

Calcudoku Killer

Combine Calcudoku cage logic with tighter sum-style restrictions for a harder arithmetic grid.

Arithmetic Squares

Complete a grid of numbers and operations so each row and column equation works.

Number clue and counting puzzles

Number clue and counting puzzles use numbers as instructions rather than entries: the clues count cells, walls, ships, lights, tents, loop edges, shaded squares or painted regions. This group captures numbered clue puzzles, counting logic puzzles and visual number puzzles such as Nonogram, Slitherlink, Hashi, Akari, Battleship, Mosaic and Tents and Trees.

Nonogram / Picross

Use row and column number clues to decide which cells are filled and reveal a hidden picture.

Minesweeper

Use nearby number clues to locate hidden mines while marking every safe cell.

Slitherlink

Draw one continuous loop around grid edges so each numbered cell has the right number of used sides.

Hashi

Connect numbered islands with horizontal and vertical bridges until all islands form one network.

Tapa

Shade cells around clue numbers to create one connected wall without making any solid 2x2 block.

Mosaic

Paint cells so every clue counts the shaded squares in its surrounding 3x3 neighbourhood.

Akari

Place lamps in open cells so the whole grid is lit and numbered walls touch the required lamps.

Battleship

Hide a fleet in the grid using row and column counts while keeping ships from touching.

Tents and Trees

Place one tent beside each tree while matching row and column counts and keeping tents apart.

Star Battle

Place stars in rows, columns and regions without letting any two stars touch, even diagonally.

Shikaku

Split the grid into rectangles where each rectangle contains one number showing its area.

Nurikabe

Grow numbered islands and a connected wall, keeping islands separate and avoiding 2x2 wall blocks.

Heyawake

Shade cells inside rooms while obeying room counts, no-adjacent-black rules and white-cell connectivity.

Cave / Bag

Draw or shade the boundary of one connected cave using clues about visible open cells.

Nurimisaki

Shade cells while using numbered cape clues to control straight white corridors.

Shakashaka

Place black triangles around clues to form clean white rectangles in the grid.

Yajilin

Draw a single loop while using arrow clues to place the correct shaded cells in each direction.

Number path and connection puzzles

Number path and connection puzzles turn numbers into order, endpoints, islands, route clues or linked pairs rather than ordinary arithmetic. They are useful for searches around numbered path puzzles, connection number puzzles and sequence grid puzzles such as Hidato, Numbrix, Numberlink, Hashi, Rikudo and related route-based logic games.

Numberlink

Connect matching numbered endpoints with paths that cover the grid without crossing or sharing cells.

Arukone

Connect matching endpoints with paths that cover the grid without crossing.

Hidoku

Connect consecutive numbers through touching cells, often allowing diagonal movement.

Rikudo

Follow a sequence of numbers through a hexagonal grid using fixed links and path logic.

Grand Tour

Create one ordered route through the grid, visiting every required cell exactly once.

Number Maze

Move through a numbered grid by following values, jumps or order clues to reach the goal.

Masyu

Draw one loop through black and white pearl clues, following their turn and straight-line rules.

Galaxies / Tentai Show

Divide the grid into rotationally symmetric regions, each centred on a dot or marked point.

Country Road

Draw one loop through regions, using clues to decide how the road enters and leaves each area.

Bridge It / Bridges

Connect numbered islands with bridges, using counts and connectivity as the main logic.

How to choose a number puzzle

If you want pure digit placement, start with Sudoku, Futoshiki, Suguru, Binary or Latin Squares. If you enjoy arithmetic, try Kakuro, KenKen, Killer Sudoku, Calcudoku or Suko. If you prefer numbers as clues rather than entries, Nonogram, Slitherlink, Hashi, Akari, Battleship and Tents and Trees are strong choices.

Difficulty depends more on puzzle design than on the name of the puzzle. A gentle Kakuro can be easier than a hard Sudoku, and a small Slitherlink can teach number-clue logic before a larger grid becomes demanding.

Best first number puzzles: Sudoku, Futoshiki, Binary, Suko and Nonogram.

Best arithmetic number puzzles: Kakuro, KenKen, Killer Sudoku, Calcudoku and Magic Square.

Best visual number-clue puzzles: Nonogram, Mosaic, Akari, Slitherlink and Minesweeper.

Best path number puzzles: Hidato, Numbrix, Numberlink, Hashi and Rikudo.

Play number puzzles online

A puzzle does not need a link to belong here. Some entries are playable on this site, while others are included because they help explain the wider family of number puzzles.

Number Puzzles FAQ

What are number puzzles?

Number puzzles are puzzles that use digits, totals, counts, sequences or numbered clues as the main source of logic.

Is Sudoku a number puzzle?

Yes. Sudoku is one of the best-known number puzzles because it uses digit placement and no-repeat logic.

What are the best number puzzles for beginners?

Sudoku, Futoshiki, Binary, Suko and Nonogram are good starting points because the rules are clear and early deductions are easy to see.

Which number puzzles can I play here?

Playable options include Sudoku, Killer Sudoku, Kakuro, Futoshiki, KenKen, Suko, Skyscrapers, Hidato, Binary, Nonogram, Slitherlink, Hashi and many more linked entries.