Just like Solitaire and other classic pastimes, Kakuro is a great puzzle to play for both recreational and educational purposes. It’s entertaining, engaging and mind-stimulating with its unique take on the logic principles of Sudoku and other similar grid-based number puzzles. With how it works, one can wonder: “Can I use Kakuro puzzles in a classroom domain?”

Of course, you can! Just like how you can play online Sudoku puzzles, Killer Sudoku cage combinations, Hitori puzzles and others in learning curriculums, Kakuro definitely fits the definition of playing and learning. Challenging learners and new users with combinations of logic and math is a good way to improve an educational setting.

Here are five reasons why you should consider implementing the game into your classroom routine!

1. It Piques the Interest of Students

Regardless of the age of your students, pulling out a Kakuro puzzle instead of the usual picture book or a syllabus can easily gain their attention. Sure, it’s important to stick to tried and tested lesson plans, but keeping things fresh with something different yet effective lessens the cage-like monotony involved in institutional learning.

Average students are known to get bored and doze away in lessons that don’t pull their interest, that’s why many of them end up excelling in fields they actually like, such as sports or performing arts. Math is already a hard subject to engage students with, especially when there are a lot of digits on the board. But with Kakuro serving as a reinforcement, it can become a lot easier to hook students in.

2. It’s Useful in Improving Logical Thinking and Basic Addition

Kakuro puzzles are great for improving the addition and logical thinking skills of younger students. However, keep in mind that they need to be able to comprehend all the mechanics of the game first and that they can use addition to an acceptable level. Forcing children to play Kakuro when they can’t add up to thousands is not going to be effective, nor is using Kakuro alone as your main source of basic addition. When properly implemented, younger students can become more attuned to logic as they continuously play Kakuro, and their quick maths becomes sharper!

3. It’s Easy and Cheap to Incorporate Into Your Lesson Plan

Unlike other game-related learning materials, which usually involve the usage of complex devices or workstations (and even sometimes combinations of both), Kakuro doesn’t need that much. You just need reference puzzles, pieces of paper and a pen or pencil to write lines and digits with! We highly recommend printing a large set of Kakuro puzzles, with each being different from one another, if you’re planning to have it work as a supplementary lesson or as extra credit homework. You can even encourage them to play online Kakuro puzzles through their devices!

4. It's Nigh-Infinite and Free

Just like the logic of Sudoku, there are just too many possible combinations of Kakuro puzzles, making it nigh-infinite and impossible to finish even in hundreds of lifetimes. Cage size, different possibilities, changing the given sum, there are many variations you can play around with, especially if you're creating your own Kakuro puzzle or in online Kakuro puzzles. This is definitely a good thing in a classroom setting as you could go through the whole academic year with a unique Kakuro puzzle every day for every student in the room without any repetitions.

Moreover, Kakuro is free to play on many websites! From server to server, loads of free Kakuro games and reference sheets are available for online play or downloading. And because of its simplicity, the load time for any device is not a problem.

5. It’s Fun and Satisfying to Play Online Sudoku Puzzles and Kakuro Conquest

Compared to watching an old video (which students usually sleep off or record nowadays), having something to physically interact with vastly improves the mood of every student. Learning is tied to the willingness of a student, and letting them solve the puzzles at their own pace and not putting them in a mental cage allows them to fully get into it and enjoy the Kakuro experience. Once they have solved a puzzle on their own, they can become empowered with satisfaction and become more eager to learn!