Arithmetic Maze Game
Practice math and problem-solving by navigating number mazes
What this game trains and how it helps
Arithmetic Maze combines two cognitive demands that are rarely trained together: mental arithmetic and sequential planning. You navigate a grid by choosing movement directions, collecting number values that add to a running total, with the goal of reaching a specified target sum.
The planning challenge is substantial: not every path that reaches the target is achievable, and committing to an early direction forecloses later options. Players must estimate whether a partial path can still reach the target, revise plans when totals drift off course, and sometimes accept a suboptimal local choice to preserve a better global outcome.
This game is particularly effective for training arithmetic in a context that demands more than calculation — you must also reason about consequences, manage uncertainty, and make decisions under partial information. Suitable for players who find standard arithmetic games too passive and want a more strategic cognitive challenge.
How to Play
- Navigate through the maze from START to END
- Each cell contains a number (+ or -)
- Add or subtract the cell value to your total as you move
- Reach the END cell with a total equal to the target
- Use arrow buttons to move up, down, left, or right
Goal
Navigate the grid by moving in directions that add cell values to a running total. Reach the target sum at the exit.
Difficulty
Grid and target sum scale with level. Harder mazes require longer planning and backtracking when the total drifts.
More games like this
Every game on PlayingMind targets a specific cognitive skill. Adaptive difficulty means the game adjusts to your level automatically — starting accessible and increasing the challenge as you improve. Each session takes two to five minutes.