How to play Enigma
Enigma is a free daily math puzzle. You get a target number, a fixed equation with empty slots, and a bank of numbers. Drag the numbers into the slots so the equation equals the target. Simple to learn — surprisingly tricky to master.
The rules
- The operators in the equation are fixed — you only choose where the numbers go.
- Every slot must be filled before you can check your answer.
- Standard order of operations applies: multiplication and division are resolved before addition and subtraction.
- Divisions must come out exact — if a division leaves a remainder, the equation is invalid and won't match the target.
- The number bank always contains more numbers than you need. The extras are decoys.
A worked example
Say the target is 12 and the equation is:
with the numbers 2, 5, 3, 1, 9, 7 available. One solution:
Note the order of operations at work: the multiplication happens first (2 × 5 = 10), then 10 + 3 − 1 = 12. Placing the same numbers differently — say 3 × 5 + 2 − 1 = 16 — misses the target completely, even though the numbers are identical. Position is everything.
Difficulty levels
| Level | What changes |
|---|---|
| 1 | Two or three operators, small numbers, one clear solution |
| 2 | Three or four operators, bigger numbers, extra decoys |
| 3 | Four operators, numbers up to 50, several decoys and less obvious steps |
| 4 | Parentheses enter the game — groups are resolved before everything else |
The daily challenge
Every day at midnight (your local time) a new daily puzzle appears — the same one for everyone. Solve it on the day it's published to grow your streak. The calendar shows every past daily puzzle: days you solved, days you attempted, and days you missed. You can go back and play any past day, but only puzzles solved on their actual day count toward your streak.
After solving the daily you can share your result — your puzzle number, attempts and time, without spoiling the solution — and challenge your friends to beat it.
Free play
Outside the daily challenge there's an endless free-play mode with three lives. A wrong answer costs a life; run out and your free-play streak resets. It's the best place to practice before tackling the daily under pressure.
Hints
Stuck? Every puzzle includes a hint that nudges you toward the key insight without giving away the answer. Using the hint doesn't affect your streak — it's there to keep the puzzle fun, not to punish you.