Mini Kakuro
Match every run to its clue.
Kakuro (sometimes called "cross sums") is a crossword-shaped number puzzle where clue sums replace clue words. Mini Kakuro keeps the classic rules on a smaller, more approachable board.
Get it on
Google Play
Coming soon
App Store
How to play Mini Kakuro
The grid is split into short runs of white cells, each capped by a clue cell showing the sum that run must add up to.
Fill every white cell with 1-9 — no digit repeats within the same run, whether it's a horizontal or vertical run.
Every run must sum to exactly its clue. A cell that belongs to both a horizontal and a vertical run must satisfy both at once.
Example
A 3-cell run clued 6 can only be 1, 2, 3 in some order — it's the smallest possible sum for 3 distinct digits, so there's no other way to make it work.
Difficulty
Tips & strategy
- Learn the handful of sums with only one possible digit combination (like 6 across 3 cells, or 17 across 2 cells) — they're always your best starting point.
- A cell shared by a horizontal and vertical run is the most constrained — solve those intersections first.
- Use Check to confirm a run's current partial sum is still reachable before committing to more digits in it.
Mini Kakuro FAQ
What is Kakuro?+
Kakuro is a number-placement puzzle laid out like a crossword grid, where instead of clue words, each run of white cells has a clue number showing what its digits must sum to.
How do Kakuro clue sums work?+
Each clue is shown in the block cell right before its run — a "right sum" for a horizontal run, a "down sum" for a vertical run. Fill the run's white cells with digits 1-9 that add up to exactly that clue.
Can digits repeat within a run?+
No — every digit within a single run (horizontal or vertical) must be distinct, the same rule that makes each clue sum solvable to a specific set of digits.
Is Mini Kakuro good for Kakuro beginners?+
Yes — it's designed as an approachable entry point into Kakuro, with smaller boards and shorter runs (2-6 cells) than a full-size newspaper Kakuro puzzle.