Game guide · 371HOTEL
The essentials of playing Kakurasu
Mark cells so every weighted row total and column total matches its clue. Start a new round when you are ready to try again. 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.
Take a closer look while playing
Take a moment to check the current turn. Tap cells to mark or clear them. Current totals are displayed alongside the target totals. Start a new round when you are ready to try again.
Understand the aim
Read the position before choosing your next action. Mark cells so every weighted row total and column total matches its clue. The game area remains available above the explanation.
How a round unfolds
- 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.
Input guidance
The example and rules describe the same game you can play above. Tap a square to mark or clear it. Undo restores the last state. New puzzle generates another checked board.
See how the rules apply
Check the rule below as you play. 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 useful caution
Check the rule below as you play. 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.
Helpful answers for players
On this page, what is the aim of Kakurasu?
Mark cells so every weighted row total and column total matches its clue. A new round resets the current game.
For this game, 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.
During a round, 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. The instructions above use these same rules.
During a round, which mistake should I avoid?
The value is the position in the row or column, not a uniform count of marked squares. A new round resets the current game.
During a round, 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. The instructions above use these same rules.
On this page, how many people can play here?
Solo. This is local browser play, not internet matchmaking. You can start a new round from the game controls.
When I start, what does a marked square contribute?
Its column number to the row total, and its row number to the column total. The worked example offers another way to follow the rule.
On this page, why can row and column contributions differ?
A square in row 2, column 5 contributes 5 to its row and 2 to its column. You can start a new round from the game controls.
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. Use the labelled controls for your next action.
During a round, can I clear a square?
Yes. Tap a marked square again, or use Undo. The game is played locally in your browser.