Looking for Mathler?
Try nerdle.
The original math word puzzle
Play classic nerdle → All nerdle games →Nerdle is the original math word puzzle – launched in January 2022, before Mathler. Over a million people played in the first week. Today it’s played in homes and schools worldwide, with famous fans including Bill Gates, Louis Theroux and Stormzy. But our proudest stories come from teachers using nerdle in class and players aged 22 to 27 keeping their minds sharp with daily maths.
Nerdle vs Mathler at a glance
| Feature | nerdle | Mathler |
|---|---|---|
| Launched | January 2022 | February 2022 |
| Daily puzzle | ✓ One global puzzle, resets at midnight UTC with local timezone option | ✓ Daily per difficulty level |
| Length / difficulty variants | ✓ Mini, midi, maxi, micro | ✓ Easy, Normal, Hard, Extreme |
| Multi‑grid mode (solve 2/4/8 grids together) | ✓ Bi, quad, octo nerdle | × |
| Speed mode (timed) | ✓ Speed nerdle | × |
| Instant mode (one‑guess logic) | ✓ Instant nerdle | × |
| Extended operators (brackets, exponents) | ✓ Maxi nerdle | × |
| Multiplayer | ✓ Nerdle cup, nerd duel | × |
| Other math games | ✓ Cross nerdle (crossword), Targets, Maffdoku (sudoku-style) | × |
| Mobile apps | ✓ iOS & Android | × Web only |
| Order of operations enforced | ✓ PEMDAS / BODMAS / BIDMAS | ✓ PEMDAS / BODMAS / BIDMAS |
| Commutativity accepted | ✓ Auto‑rearranged (toggleable) | ✓ Auto‑rearranged |
| Free | ✓ | ✓ |
Beyond the classic puzzle
Once you’ve played classic nerdle, there’s a whole family of variants designed for different moods and skill levels:
- Mini, midi & maxi nerdle – the classic at shorter or longer lengths, from a quick coffee break to a proper workout
- Instant nerdle – one guess, all the digits given, pure logic
- Speed nerdle – timed, for when you want to race the clock
- Bi, quad & octo nerdle – the math equivalents of Dordle, Quordle and Octordle: 2, 4 or 8 grids solved together
- Cross nerdle – a crossword built from equations
- Nerd duel – head-to-head against a friend or a bot
Pick a starting point from our games hub, or jump straight into classic nerdle.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the difference between nerdle and Mathler?
Both are daily math word puzzles inspired by Wordle. The main differences are breadth and mechanic. Mathler does one game well across four difficulty levels (Easy, Normal, Hard, Extreme). The nerdleverse has 10+ variants of the classic game – including speed (timed), instant (one‑guess) and multi‑grid (bi, quad, octo) modes – plus a wider family of math games (cross nerdle, targets, maffdoku), multiplayer (nerd duel, nerdle cup), and iOS and Android apps.
The gameplay is also slightly different: Mathler gives you the target number and asks you to build the equation. Nerdle hides the full equation for you to discover.
Which came first – nerdle, Mathler or Numberle?
Nerdle came first, launched in January 2022. Mathler and Numberle followed in February the same year.
Is there a daily Mathler?
Yes – Mathler has a daily puzzle at each of its four difficulty levels. Nerdle also has a single global daily puzzle (with a local-timezone option), plus 10+ daily variants of different lengths, speeds and grid counts.
Is nerdle harder than Mathler?
Classic nerdle is similar to Mathler Normal in difficulty – an 8‑character equation in 6 guesses. Both games scale: Mathler offers Easy through Extreme; nerdle has length variants (mini, midi, maxi, micro) plus speed, instant and multi‑grid modes that change the challenge in other ways. Maxi nerdle, which adds brackets and exponents, is the most maths‑rigorous option in either game.
Is nerdle free?
Yes, completely free to play on the web. No sign-up required.
Does nerdle have an app?
Yes, nerdle has official iOS and Android apps for the full Nerdleverse, with cloud backup and bonus puzzles. You can also play in any browser without downloading anything.
Can I play nerdle in the classroom?
Yes – nerdle is widely used in schools as a daily maths warm-up. No accounts needed, no ads in the classroom edition. See our classroom math games page for details of teacher resources and how teachers can go ad-free.
Why does nerdle have so many variants?
Different players enjoy different kinds of challenge. Some want a quick coffee-break puzzle (mini nerdle); some want a harder workout (maxi nerdle, which adds brackets and exponents). Others enjoy multi-grid versions (bi, quad, octo nerdle) that reward strategic thinking, or speed mode for a timed challenge, or instant nerdle where you have to solve it in a single guess.
Beyond the classic-style variants, the nerdleverse also offers different math game types entirely – cross nerdle for crossword fans, targets for number-target puzzles, maffdoku for sudoku-style logic, and nerd duel for head-to-head play.