Numgrove
11 Best Nerdle Alternatives for Math Lovers
Nerdle turned "guess the equation" into a daily ritual for a lot of people. But maybe you've solved it one too many times, or you want something that scratches a different itch. We make a daily math puzzle game (Numgrove), so we compared the math puzzles people most often recommend.
Full disclosure: Numgrove is our game. We put it where we honestly think it belongs and explain why, and we tell you which of the others to pick if our style isn't yours.
How we ranked
- Daily ritual: a fresh puzzle each day, ideally the same for everyone, with streaks
- Playable in a browser: no download required
- Depth: does it stay interesting after 30 days, not just 3?
- Fairness: skill over luck, clear rules, no pay-to-win
The 11 best Nerdle alternatives, ranked
1. Numgrove: the number tree daily puzzle
Instead of guessing an equation, you grow a number tree: fill in the branches so every + node equals the sum of the two numbers below it and every × node equals their product. Three trees a day (Seedling, Sapling and Ironwood), streaks, and a ranked Ironwood leaderboard for signed-in players. It's built on the factor-tree idea from school math, with sums mixed in, and on Sapling and Ironwood some pieces are spares that don't belong in the tree at all. Read more in what is a number tree puzzle.
Best for: people who love Wordle's daily ritual but want something that isn't equation-guessing. Free, in the browser, no download.
2. Nerdle: the original
The game that started it: guess the hidden calculation in six tries, with Wordle-style colour feedback. Still the purest "math Wordle", and it has several variants, such as Mini Nerdle.
Best for: equation-guessing purists.
3. Mathler: you know the answer
Mathler tells you the result and you find the hidden equation that makes it. Knowing the target changes how you reason about every guess.
Best for: players who want a twist on Nerdle's format.
4. Numberle: Nerdle's closest sibling
Another guess-the-equation daily with its own streaks. If you like Nerdle's format and want a second daily in the same style, this is the obvious add.
Best for: doubling your daily equation-guessing.
5. Sumplete: the sums grid
A logic grid where you cross out numbers so each row and column adds up to its target. Deceptively simple, and hard at the bigger sizes.
Best for: logic-puzzle fans who like Sudoku-style deduction with arithmetic.
6. Primel: Wordle for prime numbers
Guess the five-digit prime in six tries. The twist: every guess must itself be prime, which turns number theory into strategy. Niche, clever and humbling.
Best for: math nerds who want to feel smart and then immediately feel dumb.
7. KenKen: the arithmetic grid
Tetsuya Miyamoto's grid puzzle: fill digits so each cage makes its target with the given operation. There's a steady supply of puzzles and a great difficulty curve.
Best for: players who want a deeper, slower puzzle than a daily guessing game.
8. 2048: the sliding classic
Slide numbered tiles to merge them toward 2048. Not a daily ritual, but one of the most-played number puzzles of the last decade, and a good palate cleanser between dailies.
Best for: endless, zen number merging.
9. Countdown numbers game: beat the clock
Six numbers, one target, 30 seconds: get as close as you can with +, −, × and ÷. The TV-show format, kept alive by many web versions.
Best for: competitive players who want time pressure.
10. Threes: the original sliding puzzler
The small mobile game that 2048 followed. Charming, well balanced, and still the better-designed merge game.
Best for: appreciating the original.
11. NYT Digits: the one that got away
The New York Times' numbers game: reach a target using six numbers. It was discontinued in 2023, a reminder of how hard this genre is to get right.
Best for: nostalgia.
Side-by-side comparison
| Game | Mechanic | Daily puzzle | In the browser | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Numgrove | Number trees | Yes | Yes | Daily ritual, new mechanic |
| Nerdle | Guess the equation | Yes | Yes | Equation purists |
| Mathler | Find the equation for a known answer | Yes | Yes | A twist on Nerdle |
| Numberle | Guess the equation | Yes | Yes | A second daily |
| Sumplete | Sums grid | Varies | Yes | Logic fans |
| Primel | Guess the prime | Yes | Yes | Number theory fans |
| KenKen | Arithmetic grid | Varies | Yes | Slow, deep puzzles |
| 2048 | Merge tiles | No | Yes | Endless zen |
| Countdown | Reach a target | Varies | Yes | Time pressure |
| Threes | Merge tiles | No | Mobile app | The original |
| NYT Digits | Reach a target | Discontinued | — | Nostalgia |
Which math game should you play?
- You want Wordle's exact feel, but with math: Nerdle or Numberle.
- You want a daily ritual that isn't equation-guessing: Numgrove. Number trees use the same arithmetic muscles in a different way.
- You want logic and deduction: Sumplete or KenKen.
- You want to suffer beautifully: Primel.
FAQ
Is there a game like Nerdle but different?
Yes. Many math Wordles copy Nerdle's guess-the-equation format, but games like Numgrove (number trees), Sumplete (sums grids) and Primel (prime guessing) use different mechanics while keeping the daily-puzzle habit.
What is the math version of Wordle?
Nerdle is the best-known math version of Wordle: guess a hidden calculation in six tries. Alternatives include Numberle, Mathler and the number tree puzzle Numgrove.
Are these games free to play?
The browser games on this list can be played for free. Threes is a mobile app.
Which is the hardest math puzzle game?
Primel and large KenKen grids are often called the hardest. Among daily games, Numgrove's Ironwood level (with its spare pieces) and full-size Nerdle are the toughest daily challenges.
Play today's tree free at numgrove.com: no download, no account needed. Want to get faster? Try our number tree strategy guide.