Kakuro is a number crossword logic puzzle where every white cell receives one digit from 1 to 9. The black clue cells give totals for the across and down runs that start beside them, so the puzzle feels like a crossword built from arithmetic instead of words. A solved board must satisfy every clue sum and every no-repeat rule at the same time.

How do you play Kakuro online?

Select a white cell, enter a digit from 1 to 9, and keep checking the across and down clues that cross that cell. Each horizontal run must add to the clue on its left, each vertical run must add to the clue above it, and the same digit cannot appear twice inside one run. Online play makes that loop faster because you can undo, reset, use notes, and check conflicts without redrawing the grid.

What is a run in Kakuro?

A run is one uninterrupted group of white cells going across or down from a clue. For example, a two-cell run with a 17 clue can only use 8 and 9 in some order, while a three-cell run with a 6 clue can only use 1, 2, and 3. Thinking in runs is the key difference between Kakuro and normal arithmetic: the total matters, but the number of cells and the no-repeat rule matter just as much.

Can a Kakuro run repeat a number?

No. A single across or down run cannot repeat digits, even when the repeated digits would add to the clue. A 4 across two cells must be 1 and 3, not 2 and 2, and a 16 across two cells must be 7 and 9, not 8 and 8. The same digit can appear elsewhere on the board when it belongs to a different run.

Is Kakuro the same as Sudoku?

No. Both games use digits 1 through 9 and reward careful elimination, but the rule systems are different. Sudoku asks each row, column, and box to contain the digits without repetition. Kakuro asks each across or down run to hit a printed sum without repeating digits. A Sudoku habit of scanning whole rows is useful, but Kakuro usually starts with clue combinations and crossing runs.

What is the best way to start a Kakuro puzzle?

Start with the most restricted short sums, then use crossings to remove candidates. Two-cell sums such as 3, 4, 16, and 17 have very few legal pairs, so they are strong anchors. Write possible combinations before guessing, check whether a crossing run can accept each digit, and only place a number when both directions agree. A slower combination-first rhythm usually prevents more mistakes than blind arithmetic.

About Kakuro Puzzle

Kakuro Puzzle is a free online number crossword site built for players who want daily Kakuro puzzles, regular levels, and unlimited practice without installing an app.

Who Maintains This Site

Kakuro Puzzle is maintained as an independent logic game site. The goal is simple: make Kakuro rules clear, keep the board playable on desktop and mobile, and avoid claims the product does not support.

Puzzle Quality

The current puzzle library uses verified Kakuro boards for regular levels, daily puzzles, and deterministic practice seeds. Boards are checked against exact clue sums, filled white cells, and no repeated digit inside a run.

Accounts

You can play Kakuro without an account. Google sign-in is only shown when OAuth and the auth secret are configured, and it is not required to learn the rules or solve a puzzle.

For corrections, feedback, or questions, use the contact page.