How to play Futoshiki

The goal

The signs

• A sign sits in the gap between two squares. Its open side faces the bigger digit and its point faces the smaller one, just like < and >.
• Between squares in a column the sign points up (∧) when the top digit is smaller, and down (∨) when the bottom digit is smaller.
• A few puzzles start with digits filled in. These can’t be changed.

Playing

• Tap a square, then tap a digit to place it. Tapping the same digit again clears the square.
• The selected square’s row and column are shaded, and squares holding the same digit are highlighted.
• Each key under the board shows how many of that digit are still to place.

Tools

• Notes: turn it on to pencil in possible digits instead of placing them. Placing a digit removes it from the notes in its row and column.
• Hint fills the selected square with its correct digit, or fixes a wrong digit elsewhere. Hints are counted.
• Erase clears the selected square. Undo takes back your last change.

Mistakes

• A digit repeated in a row or column turns red.
• A sign that doesn’t hold turns red, along with its squares. So does a sign that can never hold, such as the biggest digit on the small side.

Difficulty

• Easy is a 4×4 grid with digits 1–4, Normal is 5×5, Hard is 6×6 and Expert is 7×7.
• Every puzzle is new, has exactly one solution and can be solved by logic without guessing. Your best times are kept separately for each difficulty.

Keyboard

• Digits to place, the arrow keys to move, Backspace to erase, N to switch notes on or off, H for a hint, and Ctrl or ⌘+Z to undo.

Questions

Strategy guides