Open the home page, pick a grid size if you want, and tap numbers in ascending order. The timer starts on 1 and stops on the last cell. Wrong taps raise the error count; the run keeps going.
Step by step
- Settle so the whole grid fits in one glance. Zoom the page if needed.
- Rest your gaze near the centre of the board.
- Tap 1. That starts the clock.
- Find 2, 3, and so on without hunting cell by cell. Let the edges of your vision help.
- If you miss, note it and continue. Finish the run unless you want a clean restart with New board.
Practice without thrashing
Three to five runs is enough for one sitting. Chase consistency before you chase a record. If errors climb, stop forcing speed. Shuffle the board, breathe once, and start again from 1 with a quieter eye.
Some people track only their best time. Others note a short daily average. Either works. Grinding twenty angry attempts when you are already tired usually does not.
What counts as a decent 5×5 time
Times vary a lot. Many casual players land somewhere between roughly 20 and 40 seconds on a first clean 5×5. Sub-20 is solid. Sub-10 is uncommon and usually means a lot of practice plus a calm scan style. Treat online “world record” claims carefully; board size, input method (mouse vs touch), and whether found cells disappear all change the score.
On this site, found cells stay visible but fade once tapped, the timer is local to your browser, and best times are stored only on this device. Nothing is uploaded.
Tips that help
- Prefer a mouse or trackpad over tiny touch targets when you care about time.
- Name the next number silently before you move. It cuts random tapping.
- After a miss, finish the run and learn where you drifted.
- Use New board between attempts so you are not memorizing one layout.
- Stay on 5×5 until it feels automatic before spending much time on 6×6.
Ready? Play the Schulte table.