What Is Sumplete?

Sumplete is a logic-based number game inspired by Sudoku, Kakuro, and Hitori, with a unique twist in the form of “sum clues.” To win a game of Sumplete, players must ensure that the sum of the numbers in each row and column matches the corresponding sum clue.

Daniel Tait, a London-based game creator, developed the concept for Sumplete in 2023 with the assistance of ChatGPT. Using OpenAI’s Large Language Model (LLM), Tait iterated on rules and functionalities before generating the code for the game now known as Sumplete. After prompting a bit further to add new features and enhance the game’s design, Sumplete was published online, garnering plays from over 50,000 users within a few days of its release. Shortly after the game’s launch, Sumplete was credited by several media outlets as one of the first games to be produced with assistance from ChatGPT.

Beginners can play the daily 5x5 or 7x7 boards to compete against players from around the world who are all trying to solve the same puzzles. Players can also attempt practice boards across varying levels of difficulty, such as the 5x5 easy board, the 6x6 medium grid, or the 7x7 Master-level. If those are no match for your Sumplete skills, there are even more advanced levels to attempt — if you think you are up for the challenge, that is.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Read Row & Column Targets

At the beginning of a Sumplete game, players start by assessing the grey sum labels, known as “sum clues.” Each horizontal row and vertical column has a sum clue associated with it. The sum clues for each row can be found to the right of the board, while the sum clue for each column is located at the bottom. The objective is to eliminate certain numbers in each grouping so that the total of the numbers in every row and column is equal to the associated sum clue.

Eliminate Obvious Numbers

After reviewing the sum clues on the board, players must then cross out any number that would result in the total of that row or column to exceed the target number.

For example, if the sum clue of a row is 9, and the three numbers in the row are 4, 11, and 5, the number 11 needs to be eliminated as it would cause the sum of the row to exceed the target value of 9.

Players can eliminate or “cross out” numbers by clicking on the desired cell once. Clicking twice will “circle” the number in the cell, indicating that the number will be calculated into the sum for that row or column.

Adjust After Each Move

The Sumplete board automatically recalculates the total sum of each row and column as the player progresses. If the sum clue targets are met in certain groupings but not others, players need to go back and make adjustments until the sum of each row and column matches the target values. It takes a bit of getting used to, but the trial-and-error nature of the gameplay becomes quite easy after a few sessions.

Grid Size Differences

Size	Rows/Cols	Typical Sums	Avg. Solve Time	For Whom
5×5	25 cells	10-35	2-4 min	Beginners & Kids
6×6	36 cells	20-45	4-6 min	Daily players
7×7	49 cells	30-60	6-10 min	Master mode

While there are various grid sizes and difficulty levels that players can choose from, the three modes featured in the table above serve as good barometers for player skill level.

The smaller 5x5 daily board consists of 25 total cells with sum clues that typically range between 10 and 35. This mode is great for beginners and kids, with most players at this level completing the board within 2 to 4 minutes.

Daily players will find the 36-cell 6x6 board to be a fun challenge, with most sum clues totaling between 20 and 45. The average time-to-solve for this level is roughly 4 to 6 minutes.

Advanced players who dare to attempt the 7x7 Master mode can expect sum clues between 30 and 60, with most players taking anywhere from 6 to 10 minutes to find the correct values across the 49-cell board.

Pro Tips & Common Mistakes

Start with the smallest sum clues

The smaller a sum clue is, the easier it will be to identify the numbers in the equation for that grouping.

If a sum clue for the second row in a 5x5 Sumplete board is 2, there will only be two possible pairings of numbers (0 and 2, 1 and 1) that will meet the criteria needed to solve the row. Any other numbers in the row can be eliminated, as they will cause the sum to exceed the needed value.

Always check for zeros

This tip is the simplest one we can offer, but it is also the one that is the most commonly overlooked: if you see a zero-sum clue for a row or column, quickly eliminate all of the numbers in that grouping.

Boom. Done. Simple as that!

Avoid clearing rows early in the game

If you clear a row by reaching the sum clue target early in a game, you may be setting yourself up for a dead board. In other words, you may successfully reach the target number for that row, but one or more of the numbers within that sum will prevent you from solving the entire board as you progress. Then, when you realize you’ve made an early mistake, it will be too late. The rest of your board will have been solved on the basis that the row completed initially was correct, meaning you will need to start over from the beginning.

Instead of making this “fatal” mistake, try to see if each cell elimination and/or selection will affect the intersecting sum clues. If an action works for a specific row, but hurts your ability to solve for the corresponding column, try to move on to the next cell until you’ve completed all of the safer moves on the board.

Don’t forget about complementary pairs

In short, remember your addition tables!

This tip is critical, especially at the higher difficulty levels. There are multiple ways to achieve a sum clue target number, so take that into consideration when evaluating your rows and columns. Just as 5+5 = 10, so does 1+9, 2+8, 3+7, and 4+6.

Ready for a real test? Try the 7×7 Master board →

Is Sumplete Accessibility-Friendly?

Yes, Sumplete’s design is optimized for accessibility.

Sumplete uses a color palette that abides by the rules outlined in the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2 Level AA (WCAG AA). On mobile, users can double-swipe to eliminate cells from the board, and double-tap the screen to undo the action.

FAQ

Can I undo a move in Sumplete?

Yes, you can undo a move in Sumplete by clicking the cell until the red “X” or the green circle is removed. To undo an elimination, players can simply click the cell twice. To undo a cell selection, players can click the cell once more to return the cell to its neutral state.

Players can also press the “U” key to perform a Sumplete undo, removing the last elimination.

What does a Sumplete streak mean?

A Sumplete streak represents the number of consecutive Daily Sumplete games a player has won.

Example: If a player has won 5 Sumplete games in a row, they will have a 5-day Sumplete streak.

How are Master puzzles generated?

Master puzzles feature sets of random numbers that are generated with ChatGPT. At the Master level, 81 cells on the 9x9 board are generated with the same randomness as the easier grids. That said, the Master-level difficulty setting will produce quite a hard number puzzle, so prepare to have your skills tested!

Is Sumplete good for kids?

Yes, Sumplete puzzles, like many other number-based games, are great number puzzles for kids looking to improve their basic math skills. Sumplete requires players to leverage rapid addition and subtraction, which can help younger students refine their mental math skills.

Where (and How) to Play Sumplete Today

Think you’ve got what it takes to complete today’s daily 5x5 or 7x7 games?

Click the button below to play today, or bookmark this guide if you want to come back and play later.

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