MINI-GRID: a daily number-grid puzzle
MINI-GRID is a daily number-placement puzzle on a six-by-six grid. Fill it so that every row, every column and every two-by-three box holds the numbers 1 to 6 once each.
Monday to Thursday are plain grids that get steadily harder. On Friday and Saturday some cells sit in dashed cages, and the numbers in a cage must add up to the total shown. On Sunday there are two grids that share a box and have to be solved together.
Every puzzle has exactly one solution and needs no guessing.
How to play MINI-GRID
- Fill the grid so that every row, every column and every 2×3 box contains the numbers 1 to 6 once each.
- Monday to Thursday are plain grids, getting harder. On Friday and Saturday some cells sit in dashed cages: the numbers in a cage add up to the total shown. On Sunday there are two grids that share a box and must be solved together.
- Switch on Notes to pencil small numbers into a cell while you think.
- Every puzzle has exactly one solution and can be solved by logic alone, with no guessing.
- Check shows any wrong numbers, the hint fills in one cell and says why, and Auto-notes pencils in every possibility. All three cost points. Solve without any notes for the ⚡ badge.
Tips
- Look for a row, column or box with only one gap: that cell is forced.
- Ask where a number can go in a box. If there is only one place, it goes there even if the cell could hold other numbers.
- Use notes for cells with two or three candidates. Pairs of matching notes rule those numbers out elsewhere on the line.
- In cage puzzles, small and large totals are the most useful. Two cells that add up to 3 must be 1 and 2; two that add up to 11 must be 5 and 6.
- On Sunday, start with the shared box: every number you place there counts in both grids.
Common questions
Is it always solvable without guessing?
Yes. Each puzzle is checked to have one solution reachable by logic.
What are the dashed cages?
On Fridays and Saturdays, a cage is a group of cells whose numbers add up to the total shown in its corner.
What do Check, the hint and Auto-notes cost?
Each use costs 60 points. Check shows wrong numbers, the hint fills in one cell and explains it, and Auto-notes pencils in every possibility.
What is the ⚡ badge?
It marks a solve made without using any notes at all. It is for bragging rights and does not change your score.
Can I use a keyboard?
Yes. The arrow keys move between cells, the number keys fill them and Backspace clears one.
A new puzzle every day
MINI-GRID has one puzzle a day, released at midnight UK time and the same for everyone. It is free, and you can play without an account. Finish it to keep your streak going and to see where you stand on the leaderboards.