Hype Futoshiki
A free inequality logic puzzle: fill the grid 1–N so every row and column uses each number once, and every ‹ › arrow between neighbours points to the smaller value. Pure logic, no luck — play-money Neons only.
Futoshiki: how to play, rules & tips
Play Futoshiki free online, the Japanese inequality puzzle. Fill the grid so every row and column uses each number once, and every arrow between neighbors points to the smaller number. No sign-up, no download.
How to play Futoshiki
On a grid of size N, place the numbers 1 to N so each row and each column has every number exactly once.
Some neighboring cells have a sign between them. The sign always points at the smaller value, whether it sits sideways between two cells or up and down between a cell and the one below it.
A few puzzles start with some numbers already in place. Tap a cell, then a number. Erase clears a cell and Reset starts over.
Grid sizes and difficulty
There are 10 Futoshiki puzzles: 4 easy at 4×4, 3 medium at 5×5 and 3 hard at 6×6. Some hard boards start with no numbers at all, so the signs carry the whole puzzle.
A solver has checked every board to have exactly one solution. The free Hint fills in a correct cell at any time, and progress you have earned is never clawed back.
Futoshiki tips
- A cell that is smaller than a neighbor can never be the top number N. A cell that is larger can never be 1.
- Follow chains. If three cells run smaller, smaller, smaller in a row, the first is at most N minus 2 and the last is at least 3.
- A cell that is smaller than two different neighbors is often low. Check whether it is forced to be 1 or 2.
- Once a row has only two empty cells, look at the signs touching them to decide which number goes where.
- Combine the signs with the normal Latin square logic: if a number can only fit one place in a row, it goes there.
Frequently asked questions
Is Futoshiki free?
Yes. HypeGameRoom is free: no sign-up, no download and nothing to buy to play. Arcade games reward Neons, a play-only currency that can never be cashed out.
Which way does the Futoshiki sign point?
The narrow point of the sign faces the smaller number, just like a less-than or greater-than sign in math.
What does Futoshiki mean?
It is Japanese for "not equal," which fits a puzzle built on greater-than and less-than clues.
What if I get stuck?
Press Hint for a free correct number. Every board has exactly one solution, so logic will always get you there.