Nerdle
Wordle, but the word is an equation.
Nerdle is Wordle with numbers: you have six tries to guess a hidden calculation that is exactly eight characters long, such as 12+35=47. Each guess must itself be a valid equation using the digits 0–9 and the symbols + − * / =. Tiles turn green when a character is in the right place, purple when it appears elsewhere in the calculation, and black when it does not appear at all. It was created by data scientist Richard Mann with his family and launched in January 2022, and has since grown a whole family of variants.
How to play Nerdle
- Enter a valid eight-character calculation. It must contain one = sign, and the part after the = must be just a number (no further operations).
- Check the colours: green is right character, right position; purple is right character, wrong position; black is not used.
- Rearrange. Because the solution is a real equation, a few green anchors usually pin down the whole structure — where the = sits, how many digits are on each side.
- Solve within six guesses. A new Nerdle appears every day at midnight UTC.
Rules that catch beginners
- Standard order of operations applies: multiplication and division happen before addition and subtraction, so 3+2*4=11, not 20.
- Leading zeros are not allowed, and the result of a division must be a whole number.
- Commutative answers count. If the solution is 12+35=47, then 35+12=47 is accepted as correct too.
- Every guess must be a mathematically true equation — you cannot enter a random string of digits just to probe positions.
Tips to get better at Nerdle
- Open with an equation that uses as many different digits as possible plus at least two different operators — for example a calculation that includes 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and both + and *.
- Find the = first. The equals sign is in one of only a few plausible positions (usually position 5, 6 or 7); locking it tells you the shape of the answer.
- Count digits. If the = is in position 7, the answer has exactly one digit on the right, which massively constrains the left side.
- Purple digits often belong on the other side of the = sign — try moving them across before shuffling within the same side.
- Try the mini (six-character) version first if the full game feels like homework; it teaches the logic in half the time.
Frequently asked questions
What operators does Nerdle use?
Plus, minus, multiply, divide and equals: + − * / =. No powers, brackets or decimals in the classic game.
How long is a Nerdle?
Exactly eight characters in the classic game, including the = sign. Mini Nerdle is six characters.
When does Nerdle reset?
Once a day at midnight UTC, so the switch-over time depends on your time zone.
Is Nerdle free?
Yes. The classic game and its variants are free at nerdlegame.com.