Targle

How to play Targle

Targle is a calm daily number puzzle. Each day we pick a target number and hide a six-character equation that evaluates to it. Your job is to find that exact equation in six guesses.

An equation uses digits 0–9 and the four operators +, −, ×, ÷. It must start and end with a digit, contain no leading zeros on multi-digit numbers, and evaluate to a positive integer — so 7÷2 isn't allowed, but 8÷2 is. Operator precedence is standard: multiplication and division bind tighter than addition and subtraction, so 3+2×5 evaluates to 13, not 25.

After each submitted guess, every character lights up:

• Teal — this character is in the hidden equation at this position.
• Coral — this character is in the hidden equation but in a different position.
• Slate — this character isn't in the hidden equation at all.

Invalid equations — division by zero, non-integer division, malformed expressions — are rejected at input and don't cost a guess, so you can experiment freely without penalty.

The twist

Unlike Wordle, Nerdle, or other daily puzzles, Targle shows you the target up front. That changes how the game plays.

In a typical guess-the-hidden-equation puzzle, every guess is aimed at the target and the answer in one go. Targle splits the problem: many equations equal today's target, but only one is today's answer. That opens up a second strategy — you can deliberately use a guess to probe characters without caring whether the equation hits the target.

If today's target is 36 and you're unsure which digits and operators are in play, a first guess like 1+2+3+4 — evaluated to 10, well off the target — still gives you positional feedback on six characters. Spend guesses 1–2 on exploration, guesses 3–6 on solving.

Strategy

• Lead with character variety. Your first guess doesn't need to hit the target. Pack it with different digits and at least two operators. 12+3-4 covers seven unique characters with a single guess.
• Read the evaluator live. As you type, Targle shows your equation's running result and how far it is from the target. When the delta reaches zero, you've found an equation that hits — but it may not be the specific one hidden today.
• Remember BODMAS. 30+2×3 equals 36, not 96. If the target feels unreachable with your current digits, it might be because you're reading a × as if it binds less tightly than it does.
• Hard mode. Toggle it before your first guess. Once on, every subsequent guess must keep revealed teals in place and include every revealed coral. It's a sharper puzzle and, on some days, a faster one.

Frequently asked questions

How do I play Targle on mobile?

The game works on any modern mobile browser. An on-screen keypad keeps everything in thumb reach; the evaluated number and the distance from the target update live as you type.

What time does Targle reset?

Every puzzle is pinned to 00:00 UTC, so the whole world plays the same Targle on the same date.

Why don't Wordle's green/yellow squares appear?

By design. Every MinCalc game has its own colour identity and its own shareable pattern, so a friend scrolling past your result in a group chat can tell which game you played at a glance.