Learn How to Play Hookora

Hookora is a fun puzzle game where you fill a grid with numbers following simple rules.

This page will teach you all you need to know to solve Hookora puzzles. Read through each section, try the interactive examples, and then test your skills with the practice puzzles!

What is a Hook?

In Hookora, each square on the grid has a hook level. The hook level tells you what number can go in that square. In our 3×3 grid, hook levels range from 1 to 3.

Hook Levels: The Basics

The Hookora grid is divided into different colored areas called 'hook levels'. Each colored area shows squares that follow the same rules.

Quick Tip: An empty square means the value is 0. Each colored area shows a different hook level region.

The Basic Rules

Every square on the grid follows these simple rules:

  • 1A square can only contain either 0 (empty) or its hook level number
  • 2The top-left square always contains 1 (this is your starting point)
  • 3Each hook level has a specific number of squares that must contain that hook level's value

The Basic Rule

Every square in the Hookora grid can only contain one of two possible values: either 0 (empty) or its hook level number (the color of its region).

Row and Column Totals

Along with hook level rules, each row and column must add up to a specific total shown at the edges of the grid.

6
5
3
1
4
9

Row and Column Totals

Hookora puzzles have numbers along the edges that tell you the total for each row and column. These numbers tell you what the filled squares in each row or column must add up to.

Remember: These row and column totals help you figure out which squares should contain their hook level value and which should be empty (0).

Solving Your First Puzzle

Now that you understand the basics, let's walk through solving a complete 3×3 Hookora puzzle step by step.

6
2
6
3
5
6

Step 1: Check the Totals

First, look at the numbers along the edges. These tell us what each row and column must add up to. For this puzzle, the row totals are [3,5,6] and the column totals are [6,2,6].

Your Turn: Practice Puzzles

Now it's your turn! Try these puzzles to test what you've learned. Start with Puzzle 1, which is a bit easier.

How to play: Click or tap on any square to toggle between empty (0) and the square's hook level value. Use what you've learned about hook levels and row/column totals to find the solution!

Practice Puzzle 1

6
2
6
4
4
6
Keep going! Make sure rows and columns add up correctly.

Tip: Click any square to change it between empty (0) and its hook level value. Remember the blue square in the top-left always contains 1!

Practice Puzzle 2

3
5
6
6
5
3
Keep going! Make sure rows and columns add up correctly.

Tip: Click any square to change it between empty (0) and its hook level value. Remember the blue square in the top-left always contains 1!

Ready to Play More Puzzles?

Great job! Now that you know how to play Hookora, you're ready to tackle more challenging puzzles.