⚖️ How to play Futoshiki
By Miguel Arechaga
Futoshiki is a Japanese-origin logic puzzle (its name means "inequality") that combines the idea of a Latin square with greater-than and less-than signs. It's easy to learn, requires no math knowledge, and hooks you right away. Here we explain the rules and a few tricks to solve it.
What is Futoshiki?
It's a grid puzzle (usually 5x5) where you place the numbers 1 through 5 so none repeat in any row or column. What's new here are the inequality signs (> and <) that appear between some cells and that you must respect. It's like a mini-Sudoku without boxes, but with order relationships.
Rules and how to play step by step
- Fill the grid with the numbers 1 through 5 (or 1 through N depending on size), with no repeats in any row or column.
- Respect the signs: the symbol always points toward the smaller number. In "3 > 1", the left side is larger; in "2 < 5", the right side is larger.
- The vertical signs ∧ and ∨ relate the cell above to the one below in the same way.
- You start with a few clue cells and fill in the rest using logic. Every puzzle has a unique solution.
Tricks to solve Futoshiki
- The extremes are gold: if a sign says one cell is greater than another that's already a 5, that's impossible; the same goes for a cell that must be less than a 1. Use the 1 and the N to get started.
- Inequality chains: if a < b < c, then a is at least 1, b at least 2, and c at least 3; in long chains, the values are almost locked in.
- Lean on the Latin-square rules: each number appears only once per row and column, just like in Sudoku.
- Note the candidates for each cell and cross them off using the inequalities and the numbers already placed.
How it differs from Sudoku
Compared to classic Sudoku, Futoshiki has no 3x3 boxes and is usually smaller, but it adds inequalities, which bring a different and very visual kind of logic. If you like number puzzles without complicated math, it's a great alternative to Sudoku.
🏆 Time ranking
Futoshiki has its own global ranking: your best time solving the board is saved. Go to Ranking, the 🕹️ 1 Player tab, choose "Futoshiki" from the dropdown, and compare your score with other players, synced to your account. For your result to count you need a free account on MundoSudoku (just a username and password, no email required): you can play without one, but without logging in your score won't be saved to the ranking.
