Playing a puzzle game is one of the best mental exercises. One can enhance his or her brain’s capacity by regularly indulging in puzzle game sessions. Gone are the days when you had only a few options to choose from. Today, there are a variety of puzzle games available, including Cross-Sum Puzzles Online.
You have the option to choose from a wide range of puzzle games. The cross-sum puzzle is not only a solo pastime but also a great mental exercise. This game can enhance your brain’s abilities tremendously. If you are wondering how you can play this puzzle game, then read this post. Let’s dig deeper into the article to learn how to play cross-sum puzzles online. Let’s get started.
Rules To Play Cross-Sum Puzzle Online
This game is unique and very different from regular games, such as Sudoku, jigsaw puzzles, or crossword puzzles. However, its benefits for the brain are no less than those of any other puzzle game. Moreover, you don’t need to invest a lot of time learning its rules.
The rules of this puzzle game are simple. There are shaded and empty boxes. Based on the sums provided in the shaded boxes, you need to fill each cell with a combination of digits in a row or column. It is vital to know the rules to solve the whole puzzle effortlessly.
Let’s now see how you can improve your abilities and play this puzzle game in the ways described here. Here are the details of the rules for playing a cross-sum puzzle game. By keeping in mind the following suggested rules, you can solve this puzzle in no time. Read on!!
1. Fill the grid with numbers 1 through 9
Solving the cross-sum puzzles is not rocket science. The first and foremost rule of this puzzle you need to know is that you can only enter the digits 1 through 9 in the grid. Keep in mind that you can’t enter zero or more than 9 digits. Here are some additional key points that may be of assistance:
- This game does not begin with empty boxes but pre-filled boxes. These are the clues.
- The game board also contains some higher numbers in the grid. However, you must refrain from entering any double-digit numbers.
2. Use of one digit only once in a sum group
The second rule of the cross-sum puzzle is that you can only use one digit only once in a sum group. This means that you cannot use the same digit twice in a sum group. Hence, you have to ensure that you have not used the same digit twice in a sum group. For instance, let’s take number 6. Now, according to the cross-sum puzzle rule, you cannot use 3 plus 4 to make it 6. The answer to the two-digit sums of six can be anything from 1+5, 2+4, 3+2, and so on.
Also See: How to Solve Picross Puzzle: Step-By-Step Guide
3. Digits may appear in any order
There is no rule for the ascending or descending order of digits. You are free to fill the blank boxes with the appropriate digits in any order. For example, if you need to fill in the digits for a three-digit sum of eight, the possible answers can be 2-1-5, 4-3-1, 3-4-1, and so on.
4. Allowed to repeat similar combinations of digits
In the crossword, you have to follow the strict rule of not repeating the same words. But, the cross-sum puzzle is completely in contrast to this rule. Suppose you have entered digits 4-3-1 in the answer to a three-digit sum of eight in one sum group; you can use the same order of numbers in another sum group as well. Yes, there are no restrictions on repeating similar combinations. You are free to input a similar combination of digits at any place in the grid.
5. Start with 2-digit entries
To solve the puzzle, you should start with 2-digit entries that require very low or high sums. This is one of the best strategies to avoid thinking about too many options. You’ll only find one or two possible combinations of these clues. Consequently, you can solve many entries without any errors. It will save you time and a lot of your effort in the process.
6. Only one answer is correct
There is a catch! Yes, there can be many possible combinations of digits for a given clue. But all variations cannot be correct. Your job is to find out the correct and unique digit out of various possible combinations. Your entered correct digits will become the clue to other sums/puzzles. Always keep in mind that every time you fill in digits in the box, it reveals certain hints to fill other boxes. Just follow those hints to pick the right combination.
7. Look for the common digits
Suppose the combination of 2-digit three is 1-2, and the combination of 2-digit four is 3-1. When they cross, you may see the common digit 1 in the grid. This is correct. You can look for more common digits to solve the puzzle in no time.
8. Do not fill shaded cells
Shaded cells divide rows and columns into smaller boxes to create more space on the grid. However, you cannot enter any number in the shaded cells. Particularly, the shaded cells serve as clues. Based on the provided clues in the cells, you should fill in the blank boxes. Please refer to the following guidelines to comprehend the workings of the shaded cells.
- You may see some shaded cells have diagonal lines across the middle to form two equal triangles. Use both clues that you see in both triangles to solve the puzzle. No clue is optional.
- Suppose one horizontal column is made up of 6 boxes. 2 boxes are empty, but 4 boxes are shaded. Leave the shaded boxes. Only fill in the suitable digits in the shaded boxes.
- Additionally, your puzzle may have bisected boxes. A clue will appear in the top and bottom boxes. It simply means that the bisected box will fall into the category of vertical and horizontal columns simultaneously. So, take care of this point while solving cross-sum puzzles.
The Bottom Line
These are the guidelines you must adhere to when playing cross-sum puzzles online. Of course, it may seem a tad tricky at the outset. However, with practice and dedication, you can master this game easily – As you know, practice makes a man perfect. Follow the above-mentioned techniques to master the game.
The more you implement these tips, the greater your chances of winning this game. Another technique you can try is memorizing the clues. Certain clues consist of identical number combinations. It is advisable to commit them to memory. This technique will help you solve the puzzle game effortlessly.
