Play Kakuro Online Free

Kakuro is a number-logic puzzle that combines Sudoku-style uniqueness rules with crossword-style sum clues — fill every white cell with a digit 1–9 so each run adds up to its target, no repeats, no guessing. Play free, no sign-up required.

How to Play Kakuro (60-second guide)

Kakuro is a number-logic puzzle played on a grid of white cells and black "sum" clues. Fill each white cell with a digit 1–9 so that the digits in every horizontal run add up to the clue on its left, and every vertical run adds up to the clue above it. No digit repeats within a single run.

• Black cells with a number = the sum for that run
• Diagonal split clue: top-right = horizontal sum, bottom-left = vertical sum
• Each run can use a digit only once (just like Sudoku rows)
• Start with runs that have only one possible digit combination (e.g. 2 cells summing to 3 = {1,2})

Keep Playing

• Your Progress — track puzzles solved this week
• Save & Continue Later — your progress is saved automatically in your browser, no account needed
• Print This Puzzle — export to PDF for offline play

What Is Kakuro?

Kakuro is a number-placement puzzle that combines the logic of Sudoku with the structure of a crossword. Players fill a grid of white cells with digits 1–9 so that each horizontal and vertical run sums to the clue shown in the adjacent black cell, with no digit repeating within a run. Like Sudoku, every Kakuro puzzle has exactly one unique solution that can be reached through pure logic — no guessing required. Play free at SudokuPro.

Characteristics of Kakuro

• Grid layout: irregular, mix of white (fillable) and black (clue/blocked) cells
• Number pool: 1–9 (no zero, digits don't repeat within a run)
• Runs: horizontal and vertical sequences of white cells, each with a target sum
• Unique solution: every valid puzzle has exactly one solution
• Typical solve time: 5–10 min (Easy) to 30+ min (Expert)
• Best for: players who enjoy arithmetic-based deduction alongside Sudoku-style uniqueness logic

Solving Strategies for Kakuro

Strategy 1: Unique Sum Combinations

Some sums have only one possible digit combination for a given run length (e.g., a 2-cell run summing to 3 can only be {1,2}; a 2-cell run summing to 17 can only be {8,9}). Identify these first — they're guaranteed, no-risk entries.

Strategy 2: Cross-Referencing Runs

Every white cell belongs to one horizontal and one vertical run. When a digit is confirmed in one direction, it eliminates that digit as an option for the crossing run — narrowing possibilities the same way row/column logic works in Sudoku.

Strategy 3: Process of Elimination on Long Runs

For runs of 4+ cells, list all possible digit sets that sum correctly, then cross out sets that conflict with digits already placed. Long runs usually collapse to one valid set faster than they appear to.

Related Logic Puzzles

If you enjoy Kakuro's blend of arithmetic and deduction, these puzzles share the same "unique solution, no guessing" foundation with their own twist:

• Sudoku — the classic Latin Square puzzle: same one-of-each-digit logic as Kakuro's runs, without the arithmetic.
• Calcudoku — replaces Kakuro's sums with math "cages" using +, −, ×, and ÷.
• Futoshiki — drops the math entirely in favor of inequality signs (> and <) between cells.
• Skyscrapers — adds visibility clues from the grid's edges instead of sums or cages.
• Jigsaw Sudoku — keeps Sudoku's rules but replaces square boxes with irregular jigsaw regions.