Can I move diagonally?

No. Only up, down, left and right count as connected. This is the single most common misunderstanding when players start.

How many attempts do I get?

Three. After the third incorrect sum the game reveals a valid solution so you can see what you missed.

Is there always a solution?

Yes. The target is derived from an actual chain on the board, so at least one correct answer always exists.

When does the puzzle change?

At midnight UTC. The countdown on the game card shows exactly how long is left.

Puzzle guide

How to play the Daily Number Grid

The Daily Number Grid is a four-by-four board of single digits and one target total. Your job is to trace a connected chain of exactly four tiles that adds up to the target. Everyone in the world gets the same board each day, so a score is directly comparable, and you get three attempts before the solution is revealed.

Play Daily Number Grid

Step by step

Look at the target total shown above the board before touching anything. Knowing whether you need a high or low sum changes which corner of the grid is worth reading first.
Tap any tile to begin. There is no fixed starting square, so the whole board is open on your first move.
Tap a second tile that shares an edge with the first. Edges mean up, down, left and right only. Diagonal moves are not legal, which is the rule most new players trip over.
Continue until four tiles are selected. Only the highlighted tiles are legal at each step, so you can never build an invalid chain by accident.
Check the running total under the board, then submit. If it misses, the game tells you how far above or below you landed, which is the most useful clue you get.

Tips that actually help

Work backwards from the target. If the target is 23 and you can see a 9 and an 8 next to each other, you only need 6 from two more tiles.
The difference message after a failed attempt is worth more than a fresh guess. Being told you were four over means swapping a single tile, not rebuilding the chain.
Chains are allowed to turn. A path can go right, right, then down. Many players only look for straight lines and miss the obvious answer.
Tap your most recent tile again to undo just that step, rather than clearing the whole chain and starting over.
High targets usually need the largest digits on the board, so find the biggest cluster first and check whether they connect.

Why the board is the same for everyone

The board is generated from the date rather than at random, so the same numbers and the same target appear for every player on a given day. That is what makes comparing a result meaningful. It also means the puzzle is always solvable: the target is calculated from a real chain that exists on the board, so there is never a day where no answer is possible.

What counts as a connected chain

Two tiles are connected when they share a full edge. A tile in the middle of the board has four neighbours, an edge tile has three, and a corner tile has two. Corners are therefore the most restrictive place to start, and a useful thing to notice when you feel stuck. You also cannot reuse a tile, so a chain of four always covers four distinct squares.

Keeping a streak

Solving the daily board extends your streak by one. Missing a day resets it. Your streak and results are stored in your own browser rather than on a server, so clearing site data or switching devices will start you fresh. If you want unlimited practice without risking the streak, Practice Grid uses the same rules with no daily limit.

Common questions

Can I move diagonally?: No. Only up, down, left and right count as connected. This is the single most common misunderstanding when players start.
How many attempts do I get?: Three. After the third incorrect sum the game reveals a valid solution so you can see what you missed.
Is there always a solution?: Yes. The target is derived from an actual chain on the board, so at least one correct answer always exists.
When does the puzzle change?: At midnight UTC. The countdown on the game card shows exactly how long is left.