logic and deduction puzzles
solve through reasoning, not guessing
Every game in the nerdleverse involves logic to some degree – even the nerdle guessing games reward careful reasoning over random tries. But the games below lean furthest into pure deduction. They give you a grid, a set of constraints, and enough information to work out every answer without any guesswork at all.
nerdle's logic games
More about each game
cross nerdle – a math crossword. Every row and column must form a valid equation. The pre-filled squares and interlocking constraints mean every missing digit can be deduced logically – no guessing required. Puzzles run Monday to Sunday, easiest to hardest, with unlimited practice available.
maffdoku – fill a 3×3 grid with the digits 1–9. The clues around the outside are the sum or product of each row or column. Three difficulty levels, from gentle to genuinely tricky.
2d nerdle – nerdle in two dimensions. Calculations interlock across and down in a grid, and you fill in what’s missing. Three levels plus unlimited mode.
targets – given a set of numbers, build a calculation that hits the target. One target at level 1, up to four simultaneous targets at level 4.
decoy numbers – rearrange number tiles into a valid calculation, but one tile is a decoy. Find it and discard it, then solve the equation.
Logic in the nerdle guessing games
The nerdle variants (classic, mini, maxi, etc.) also involve substantial logic and deduction. Each guess narrows the possibilities, and experienced players use systematic elimination rather than random tries. The difference is that the guessing games also involve an element of strategy and luck, especially in the opening guess. If you enjoy the pure deduction games above, you’ll likely enjoy the daily math puzzles too – they’re complementary skills.