Picks for every type of player
This is a hand-picked guide to the best math games on the web — including some we make and plenty we don’t. Everything here is free to play in a browser, most refresh with a new puzzle every day, and nothing needs a download. We’ve grouped games by the kind of player you are, so you can skip straight to what fits — whether that’s a two-minute brain warm-up, a daily habit, or a logic grid with no arithmetic at all.
A note on who’s writing this: We’ve been making math puzzle games since 2022. Classic nerdle alone has been played over 100 million times; well over 200 million plays across all our games — led by mini, bi, quad and maxi, with newer additions like cross-nerdle, targets and math sudoku expanding the nerdleverse. That experience shaped these picks.
Games where you deduce a hidden equation from clues — the “math Wordle” family. Light arithmetic, heavy logic and pattern-spotting.
classic nerdle
Best for: a daily equation puzzleGuess the hidden 8-character calculation in six tries, using colour clues to close in. The original math word puzzle and a great place to start.
maxi nerdle
Best for: more of a challengeThe same idea as classic, stretched to a longer equation with more room for operators. If classic feels too quick, maxi gives you more to chew on.
mini nerdle
Best for: a quicker version of the same puzzleThe shortest nerdle — a 6-character equation to crack. Exactly the same deduction as classic, just lighter and faster, and the easiest way into the math-word-puzzle genre.
Short, moreish games you can finish in a couple of minutes — perfect for a coffee break or a commute.
2048 · by Gabriele Cirulli
Best for: addictive number-mergingSlide and merge tiles to reach 2048. The arithmetic is just doubling, but the planning is what hooks you. Endless rather than daily — play one round or twenty.
speed nerdle
Best for: racing the clockYou start with one clue and race to solve the equation as fast as you can. The same nerdle logic with a time-attack twist for when you want a jolt.
instant nerdle
Best for: a one-guess puzzleAll the digits are laid out — you just have to arrange them into the right equation in a single guess. A satisfying few-second solve, and a new one every day.
corner sudoku
Best for: sudoku with a quick twistNormal sudoku rules plus one extra: the four corners of each box must add up to the same revealed number. A compact grid with a fresh bit of deduction to chew on.
Grid-filling puzzles that scratch the crossword itch but run on numbers and equations instead of words.
cross-nerdle
Best for: a true math crosswordThe closest thing to a crossword for math fans — a full grid where every row and column must be a valid equation. Patient, rewarding, and great for a longer sit-down.
KenKen · by Tetsuya Miyamoto
Best for: a compact grid challengeIf cross-nerdle is the broadsheet crossword, KenKen is the quick cryptic — a smaller grid you can finish faster, with arithmetic targets driving each cage.
Kakuro · many publishers
Best for: a numbers crosswordA crossword grid where each run of cells must add up to its clue, with no digit repeated in a run. The most genuinely crossword-like of the math grids — addition plus deduction.
Love the click of a good number grid? For plain sudoku, any reputable app will do — but if you want sudoku with a mathematical twist, these three are our own take on the format. (For Killer Sudoku and KenKen, see logic without arithmetic below.)
maffdoku
Best for: the best math sudokuOur original math sudoku: fill a 3×3 grid with the digits 1–9 so every row and column matches its sum (Σ) or product (Π) clue. Three fresh difficulty levels daily.
corner sudoku
Best for: sudoku plus a sum twistClassic 9×9 sudoku with one extra rule: the four corner cells of every box must add up to a revealed total. A fresh layer of deduction over the sudoku you already know.
calc sudoku
Best for: KenKen-style cagesA 6×6 calcudoku grid: cells group into cages, each with a target and an operator (+, −, ×, ÷). Make every cage hit its target while keeping rows and columns unique.
Games built around a single fresh puzzle each day — the kind you bookmark and return to with your morning coffee.
classic nerdle
Best for: the everyday math fixOne new equation puzzle a day, the same for every player worldwide. Shareable results make it easy to turn into a daily ritual with friends or family.
maffdoku
Best for: a daily number-grid fixOur original math sudoku: fill a 3×3 grid with the digits 1–9 so every row and column hits its sum or product clue. A satisfying daily solve in three difficulty levels.
targets
Best for: a numbers-round brain teaserCombine the numbers you’re given to hit a target total — a bit like the numbers round on a TV quiz. Quick, flexible, and there’s always more than one way in.
Queens · by LinkedIn
Best for: a no-maths daily streakIf you want a daily habit but fancy a break from arithmetic, Queens is a one-a-day logic puzzle that’s quick, shareable and pairs nicely with a daily nerdle.
Head-to-head and tournament formats for when solo solving isn’t enough and you want a rival.
nerdDuel
Best for: head-to-head matchesA real-time duel where you and an opponent race to solve the same equation. Fast, competitive, and the most social way to play nerdle.
nerdle Cup
Best for: tournament playA knockout-style competition for players who want stakes beyond a single duel. Climb the rounds and see how far your solving holds up.
No time pressure, clear visuals and a satisfying daily mental workout. These suit anyone who wants a calm, regular brain exercise — and they’re a favourite with older players.
maxi nerdle
Best for: a meatier daily solveA longer equation means more to think about and no rush to finish — a proper, unhurried mental workout you can take at your own pace.
cross-nerdle
Best for: a relaxed grid puzzleNo clock, no streak pressure — just a grid to fill at leisure. Many players find it the most relaxing way to spend time with numbers.
KenKen · by Tetsuya Miyamoto
Best for: gentle arithmetic practiceAdjustable grid sizes mean you can start small and work up. A friendly way to keep mental arithmetic ticking over without it ever feeling like a test.
maffdoku
Best for: a gentle daily routineA friendly math sudoku — a small 3×3 grid driven by sum and product clues, with no clock and no fuss. Just the satisfying “solved it” feeling each day.
Grid puzzles solved by pure reasoning about placement, with little or no mental arithmetic. Great if “math game” appeals but adding things up doesn’t.
KenKen · by Tetsuya Miyamoto
Best for: logic + a little arithmeticA grid where caged cells must hit a target using +, −, × or ÷. There’s some arithmetic, but the puzzle is solved by reasoning, not calculation.
Killer Sudoku · many publishers
Best for: sudoku with a twistSudoku plus caged sums — mostly placement logic, with a sprinkle of light addition to crack the cages. A satisfying step up from a plain sudoku.
Queens · by LinkedIn
Best for: pure deduction, no mathsPlace one crown in every row, column and colour region without any two touching. No arithmetic at all — just clean logical deduction, with a fresh puzzle each day.
Tango · by LinkedIn
Best for: a quick logic warm-upFill the grid with suns and moons so no three repeat in a row and each line stays balanced. A bite-size daily logic puzzle in the same family as Queens.
Friendly, curriculum-adjacent games for younger players, teachers and homeschoolers — arithmetic practice that doesn’t feel like homework.
Math Playground · by Math Playground
Best for: ages 6–13A big library of arithmetic, fractions and logic games pitched at primary and middle-school learners. Sortable by grade and topic, which teachers will appreciate.
Times Table Rockstars · by Maths — No Problem / Maths Circle
Best for: times-tables practiceA school favourite for drilling multiplication facts through quick, gamified rounds. It’s a paid subscription aimed at schools rather than a free public game, but it’s the go-to for classroom times-tables.
mini nerdle
Best for: confident young solversThe short 6-character nerdle works well for older kids who’ve got the hang of equations — a quick, shareable daily challenge for the family or classroom.
Not sure which fits you? Here’s the “best for me” cheat sheet. Scroll sideways on mobile to see every column.
| Game | Math required | Time per game | Daily refresh | Free | Mobile-friendly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| classic nerdle | Light | ~4 min | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| maxi nerdle | Light–Medium | ~8 min | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| mini nerdle | Light | ~2 min | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| speed nerdle | Light | ~3 min | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| instant nerdle | Light | <1 min | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| cross-nerdle | Medium | ~9 min | New regularly | Yes | Yes |
| maffdoku (math sudoku) | Medium | ~13 min | By level | Yes | Yes |
| targets | Medium | ~9 min | By level | Yes | Yes |
| nerdDuel | Light | ~9 min/session | On demand | Yes | Yes |
| nerdle Cup | Light | ~9 min | On demand | Yes | Yes |
| 2048 | Minimal | ~5–15 min | Endless | Yes | Yes |
| KenKen | Light–Medium | ~5–15 min | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| corner sudoku | Light | ~5–10 min | By level | Yes | Yes |
| calc sudoku | Medium | ~5–10 min | By level | Yes | Yes |
| Killer Sudoku | Light | ~10–25 min | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Kakuro | Light | ~10–20 min | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| LinkedIn Queens | None | ~1–3 min | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| LinkedIn Tango | None | ~1–3 min | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Math Playground | Varies | Varies | Library | Yes | Yes |
| Times Table Rockstars | Multiplication | ~3–5 min | On demand | Subscription | Yes |
About these numbers: time-per-game figures for the nerdle games are verified from our own player data over the last 28 days — they’re typical session times, not solve times for one puzzle. Figures for other games are approximate.
It depends what you want from the five minutes. If you like deducing a hidden equation, classic nerdle is a great daily habit — one fresh puzzle a day, the same for everyone. If you’d rather reason about a grid, a daily KenKen or LinkedIn Queens scratches that itch with little or no arithmetic. For something in between, our math sudoku and targets both reward a quick daily visit.
Start small. Mini nerdle takes about two minutes and is the gentlest way into the math-word-puzzle genre. If you find arithmetic stressful, begin with a pure-logic puzzle like LinkedIn Queens instead — no sums at all. Once either feels comfortable, classic nerdle and KenKen are the natural next steps up.
Yes — the closest is nerdle, which is often called “math Wordle” or “number Wordle.” Instead of guessing a five-letter word, you guess a hidden equation and use the same green/colour-coded clues to home in on it. Mini nerdle, maxi nerdle and speed nerdle are variations on that same Wordle-style format if you want a shorter, longer or timed version.
Every nerdle game on this page — classic, mini, maxi, speed, cross-nerdle, math sudoku, targets, nerdDuel and nerdle Cup — is free to play in a browser with no signup required. 2048, KenKen, Killer Sudoku, Kakuro, LinkedIn Queens and Tango, and Math Playground are also free to play, though some support themselves with ads. Times Table Rockstars is the exception — it’s a paid school subscription.
Look for games with no time pressure and clear, large grids. Maxi nerdle gives a longer, unhurried daily solve; cross-nerdle is a relaxed grid you can fill at your own pace; and KenKen lets you pick a smaller grid and work up. If you’d rather skip arithmetic entirely, a daily logic puzzle like LinkedIn Queens delivers the same satisfying mental workout. None of these require fast reactions — just steady thinking.
They scratch different itches. Sudoku is pure placement logic with no arithmetic. KenKen adds light arithmetic to a logic grid — you work out which numbers hit each cage’s target. Nerdle is different again: you’re deducing a whole hidden equation from colour clues, so it leans on both arithmetic and Wordle-style deduction. If you love grids, KenKen and sudoku will feel right at home; if you love the “crack the code” thrill of Wordle, nerdle is the better fit.
“Math Wordle” is the nickname people use for nerdle — the original daily math word puzzle, launched in January 2022. It borrows Wordle’s format (a hidden answer, six guesses, colour-coded feedback) but replaces the five-letter word with a hidden calculation. You can play it free at nerdlegame.com.
Arrived here for math games, but happy to roam a little wider? A few adjacent picks we rate — outside pure math, so they sit here rather than in the curation above.
If you enjoy nerdle but also like word and logic puzzles beyond pure math, the NYT puzzle suite — Wordle, Connections and Strands — is the gold standard. To learn the maths behind the games rather than just play them, Brilliant.org offers interactive lessons. And for a broader catalogue of casual browser games, Cool Math Games hosts hundreds of small web games — though we’d say try the curated picks above first.