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KenKen

Fill the grid so each row and column has each number once. Match the cage targets with math!

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Frequently Asked Questions about KenKen

What is KenKen?
KenKen is a math-based logic puzzle similar to Sudoku. You fill a grid so each row and column contains unique digits, but each group of cells (cage) must combine to a target number using a specified math operation. It was invented by Japanese math teacher Tetsuya Miyamoto.
How is KenKen different from Sudoku?
Both require unique digits in rows and columns, but KenKen adds arithmetic. Each cage has a target number and operation (addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division). You must satisfy both the math constraint and the no-repeat rule. KenKen also comes in various grid sizes beyond 9x9.
What grid sizes are available?
PlayBrain offers KenKen in multiple grid sizes: 3x3 (beginner), 4x4 (easy), 5x5 (medium), 6x6 (challenging), and larger grids for experts. Smaller grids use digits 1-3 or 1-4, while larger grids use wider number ranges.
Is KenKen free to play online?
Yes! Play KenKen on PlayBrain completely free in your browser. No downloads, no accounts, no paywalls. New puzzles generated every time you play across all difficulty levels.
What is the best strategy for solving KenKen?
Start with single-cell cages (the answer is the target number). Then look for cages with only one possible combination. Use row and column constraints to eliminate candidates. For subtraction and division cages, remember the larger number can go in either cell.

About KenKen

KenKen is a math-based logic puzzle invented by Japanese educator Tetsuya Miyamoto to sharpen arithmetic and reasoning skills simultaneously. The grid is divided into cages, each marked with a target number and a math operation (addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division). You fill every cell with digits so that each row and column contains no repeats, and the numbers in each cage produce the target when combined using the specified operation. Smaller grids use digits 1 through 4, while larger puzzles scale up to 6 or 9. KenKen is widely used in classrooms worldwide to build number fluency, but it is equally satisfying as a recreational brain teaser for puzzle enthusiasts of all ages.

How to Play

  1. Examine each cage's target number and operation (e.g., 12x means cells must multiply to 12)
  2. Fill cells with digits so each row and column contains every number exactly once, like Sudoku
  3. Calculate which digit combinations satisfy each cage's operation and target value
  4. Use process of elimination across intersecting cages to solve the full grid