About Daily Squares
I’ve been playing Daily Squares every morning with my first cup of coffee, and it’s quickly become my favorite brain teaser to kickstart the day. The premise is simple: you’re given a grid—usually 5×5—and you have to fill it with numbers from a predefined set so that each row and column matches a target sum. There’s no guesswork or trial-and-error buttons; it’s pure logic, so once you see the pattern, you know you’ve cracked it.
What’s clever is how each puzzle feels fresh without ever asking you to memorize new rules. You might start by spotting that only one way exists to hit the sum of 18 with three squares, or realize that a particular number can’t go anywhere else but the center. Sometimes I’ll sketch possibilities on scratch paper, but most days I’m able to solve it right on my phone or browser in under five minutes. And with only one puzzle per day, it never feels like an endless maze of levels.
There’s also a subtle satisfaction in watching the grid fill in and knowing you didn’t cheat by looking for hints. I’ve shared friendly challenges with coworkers—whoever finishes first treats the other to lunch—and it’s more about flexing your mental muscles than keeping score. If you ever hit a wall, stepping away for a few minutes usually does the trick; coming back with fresh eyes often lets you see that final move.
By the end of the week, you’ve got a little streak going, and it feels oddly rewarding to say you’ve “done your Daily Squares” five days in a row. Whether you’re into sudoku, crosswords, or just a quick puzzle break, this one hits the sweet spot of challenging enough to stay interesting but breezy enough to wrap up before you’re late for your next Zoom call. I’d recommend giving it a try—you might just find yourself looking forward to solving squares before you even check your email.