Numericle — FAQ

What is Numericle?

Numericle is a free daily math puzzle game. In a world with lots of word games, our family loves numbers — so I wrote it for the number lovers amongst us all. Each day a new puzzle is released, with a hidden target number (between 0 and 500). Your job is to figure out that target by building math equations with the 5 provided numbers.

After each guess you get a coloured tile telling you whether your result was too high, too low, or just right. Use the feedback to zero in on the target — you have 6 guesses.

How do I play?

Tap the number tiles at the bottom to build your equation.
Tap operator tiles (+ − × ÷ ( )) to add them.
Tap any tile already in your equation to remove it.
Use Clear to wipe the whole equation, or ⌫ to delete the last tile.
Press Check when you're ready to submit your guess.

Example: Your numbers are 3, 7, 12, 25, 50 and the target is 175.
You try 25 × 7 = 175. Green tile — solved in 1! 🎉

What do the coloured tiles mean?

After each guess you receive exactly one feedback tile that tells you how close your result was to the hidden target.

↑

Red ↑ — your result is more than 50 below the target. Try a bigger number next time.

↑

Orange ↑ — your result is within 50 below the target. You're close — nudge it up a little.

↓

Orange ↓ — your result is within 50 above the target. You're close — nudge it down a little.

↓

Red ↓ — your result is more than 50 above the target. Try a smaller number next time.

=

Green = — exact match! You've solved the puzzle.

Can I use all the numbers?

You can use any subset of the 5 provided numbers — from just 1 of them up to all 5. Each number may only be used once per guess. Every guess resets the number bank so you always have all 5 available for your next attempt.

Allowed: 25 × 7 (uses 2 of the 5 numbers)
Not allowed: 25 + 25 (uses the same number twice in one guess)

What if my answer is a fraction?

Intermediate steps in your equation can produce fractions — that's fine. For example (25 + 3) ÷ 7 × 50 calculates as (28/7)×50 = 4×50 = 200, which is a whole number.

However, the final result of your guess must be a whole number. If it isn't, you'll see the message "Result must be a whole number" and your guess won't count. Adjust your equation until the preview shows a whole number.

When does the new puzzle come out?

A brand-new puzzle unlocks every day at midnight PST (Pacific Standard Time, UTC−8 in winter and UTC−7 during daylight saving). If you're in a different time zone, the puzzle updates at the equivalent moment for you.

Why can't I play again today?

There is one puzzle per day, shared by everyone. Once you've completed (or used all 6 guesses on) today's puzzle, you'll need to wait until midnight PST for the next one. The completion screen shows a countdown timer so you know exactly how long to wait.

Your results are saved locally on your device so you can revisit today's puzzle any time before midnight.

How is my streak calculated?

Your current streak counts consecutive days on which you solved the puzzle (any number of guesses, as long as you got it). It increments by 1 each time you win, and resets to 0 if you use all 6 guesses without finding the target.

Your best streak is the longest winning run you've ever had — it never goes down.

Stats are stored in your browser's local storage, so they persist across sessions on the same device and browser. Clearing your browser data will reset your stats.