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Target
Hit the number, exactly.
Category
Free Number Puzzles
Number puzzles reward arithmetic you do in your head rather than on paper. They are short, self-contained, and far better mental exercise than they look — most players find their mental multiplication improves within a couple of weeks of daily play.
Number puzzles you can play right now
Arithmetic puzzles vs placement puzzles
There are two families here. Arithmetic puzzles such as Target give you raw material — six numbers, four operations — and one goal, so the challenge is search: which combinations get you close, and how do you correct the remainder. Placement puzzles such as Sudoku involve no arithmetic at all; the digits are just symbols and the work is constraint logic.
A method that works for target games
Work backwards from the target rather than forwards from your numbers. Divide the target by each large number available and look at the remainder — if the remainder is reachable with the small numbers you hold, you have a solution. Players who search forwards tend to find approximate answers; players who search backwards tend to find exact ones.
Number puzzles — frequently asked questions
Is Target free to play?
Yes, the daily Target puzzle is free and needs no account. Practice mode is free too.
Do I need to be good at maths?
No. Target only uses addition, subtraction, multiplication and division on whole numbers. It rewards persistence and a good search order far more than raw calculation speed.
Is there a calculator or hint?
There is no calculator — the point is mental arithmetic. Your working is shown on screen as you build an expression, so you never have to hold intermediate results in your head.
How is Target different from other countdown-style number games?
Target keeps the classic six-numbers-and-a-target format, adds a daily puzzle everyone shares, a timer, and an unlimited practice mode, and runs free without ad interruptions.
Does Sudoku count as a number puzzle?
It is usually filed as one, though it is really a logic puzzle wearing digits. If you want actual arithmetic, play Target; if you want pure deduction, play Sudoku.
Further reading
Brain Science
Number Puzzle Games to Train Mental Math
Five number puzzle games that quietly rebuild the mental-math habits calculators have taken from most adults.
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Read GuideMath Wordle Alternatives: Free Number Puzzle Games to Play Online
Love Wordle but crave numbers? Here are the best free Math Wordle-style and number puzzle games online — including arithmetic, countdown, and logic challenges.
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