Turn the crank. Fill the grid. Beat the clock.
CranKen is a crank-powered KenKen math puzzle game built for Playdate. Spin the crank to dial in digits, fill every row and column, and solve cage constraints across seven grid sizes -- from a breezy 3×3 warm-up to a brain-melting 9×9 marathon. Every puzzle is procedurally generated, so there is always a fresh challenge waiting.
Features
- 7 grid sizes from 3×3 to 9×9 -- pick your difficulty
- Crank-driven number input -- spin the crank to scroll through digits, the way Playdate was meant to be played
- Procedurally generated puzzles -- infinite replayability, no two games alike
- Best time tracking per grid size -- chase your personal records
- 5 cage operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and given cells
- Clean 1-bit aesthetic designed for Playdate’s crisp black-and-white screen
Controls
- Crank: Scroll through numbers / Select grid size
- D-pad: Move between cells
- A button: Cycle number forward / Confirm selection
- B button: Cycle number backward
What is CranKen?
Think Sudoku, but with arithmetic. You fill each row and column with unique digits -- no repeats allowed. The twist: cells are grouped into “cages” outlined with thick borders, and the numbers inside each cage must combine to hit a target value using the given operation (like 12x or 3-). It is simple to learn and deeply satisfying to master.
How to Install on Playdate
- Download the .pdx.zip file from this page
- Go to play.date/account/sideload in your browser
- Sign in with your Playdate account
- Upload the .pdx.zip file
- The game will appear on your Playdate!
Requires a Playdate console to play.