How to Play RippleSum
Master the ripple mechanic and dominate the leaderboard
RippleSum is a daily logic puzzle where you fill grids by "rippling" numbers to adjacent cells. Master the basic mechanic in 2 minutes, then challenge yourself with increasingly complex puzzles.
Basic Rules
The Goal
Fill all empty cells in the grid with numbers
The Constraint
No adjacent cells can have equal values (orthogonal or diagonal)
The Mechanic
Tap filled cells to ripple their values to neighbors
Understanding the Ripple
When you tap a filled cell, its value ripples to all 8 surrounding cells (including diagonals). This is the core mechanic that makes RippleSum unique.
- Empty cells receive the tapped value
- Cells with the same value double
- Cells with different values remain unchanged
Example: If you tap a cell with value 3, all empty neighbors become 3, any neighbor
with 3 becomes 6, and neighbors with different values stay as they are.
The challenge comes from planning your ripples. Since no adjacent cells can match, you need to think ahead about which cells to fill first and avoid creating conflicts.
Strategy Tips for Beginners
- Start with corners — They have fewer neighbors, making them easier to solve
- Look for forced moves — Sometimes only one value works in a cell
- Work backwards — Think about what values can't go in a cell
- Practice on 4×4 first — Build pattern recognition before attempting 6×6
- Merge for points — Doubling a neighbour scores its new value, so merges beat plain fills
Difficulty Levels
4×4 Grid
Perfect for learning the ripple mechanic. Most players solve in 2-3 minutes.
Play 4×4 →6×6 Grid
Advanced strategy required. Demands careful planning and pattern recognition.
Play 6×6 →Scoring & Leaderboards
Your score is the total of every value your ripples write: filling an empty cell with a 3 earns 3, and doubling a 3 into a 6 earns 6. Leaderboards rank by score first, and fewer moves breaks ties.
Each puzzle has a daily leaderboard showing the top 10 players. Scores are verified on the server by replaying your taps. Leaderboards are anonymous but persistent via device ID, so you can track your ranking without creating an account.
Advanced Techniques
- Pattern recognition — Common grid configurations have optimal solutions
- Backtracking — If stuck, work backwards from the goal state
- Constraint propagation — Filling one cell often forces values in others
- Corner-edge-center strategy — Solve corners first, then edges, finally center
Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Rushing without planning — Think through ripple consequences first
❌ Ignoring corner constraints — Corners are your friends; use them wisely
❌ Random tapping — Each move should have strategic purpose
✅ Visualize before you ripple — Imagine the result before tapping
Ready to Solve Your First Puzzle?
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I undo moves?
Yes! You have 1 undo move available per game. Use it wisely to backtrack from a mistake. This encourages thoughtful planning while giving you a safety net. If you need more undos, you can restart the puzzle.
How is the daily puzzle generated?
Puzzles are drawn from a pre-generated pool of 10,000 boards per size, three a day. You get 6 games per day — 3 for 4×4 mode and 3 for 6×6 mode. The same puzzles are shown to all players worldwide.
What happens if I can't solve a puzzle?
No worries! You can restart the same puzzle or try again later. Puzzles remain available all day, and there's no penalty for incomplete solves. Your streak only breaks if you miss an entire day.
Do I need to create an account?
Nope! RippleSum is completely anonymous. Your progress and streak are saved on your device. Scores go to the leaderboard under a random ID that is not linked to you. No email, no password, no tracking.