EveryMemoryMagic Square
Place the digits 1 to 9 so every row, column and diagonal adds up to 15. A free magic square puzzle that trains number logic - correct lines glow. Play it right here.
⚡ Quick answer
A 3x3 magic square places the digits 1 to 9, each once, so every row, column and both diagonals sum to 15. It trains number logic and constraint-juggling - balancing several sums at once. Our checker confirms a true magic square: all eight lines must equal 15 and all nine digits must be used once. The fair score is your solve time against your own best.
Key takeaways
- Place digits 1–9, each once, so every row, column and diagonal sums to 15.
- Correct lines glow; a win needs all eight lines correct and all nine digits used.
- The trick: 5 always sits in the centre, evens in corners, odds on edges.
- Trains number logic and constraint-juggling; beat your own fastest time.
A magic square is a grid of numbers arranged so that every row, every column and both diagonals add up to the same total. The classic 3x3 uses the digits 1 to 9 exactly once, and the magic total is always 15. It's been delighting puzzlers for thousands of years - there's even a legend about it appearing on a turtle's shell.
Play it above - tap a cell, then a digit, until all eight lines glow - then read on for the trick and what it exercises.
How to play
Correct lines light up as you go, so you get instant feedback.
- Tap Start, then tap an empty cell to select it.
- Tap a digit (1–9) to drop it in; each digit can be used only once.
- Tap a filled cell to clear it if you change your mind.
- Win when all rows, columns and both diagonals equal 15; your fastest time is saved on your device.
It all runs in your browser - no sign-up, nothing sent anywhere.
What it trains
The magic square is a tidy number-logic workout:
- Constraint reasoning - satisfying several sums at the same time.
- Mental arithmetic - adding and adjusting trios of digits quickly.
- Working memory - holding which digits are still free.
Like any single puzzle, it mostly makes you better at itself - enjoyable practice, not a proven IQ boost.
The trick: 5 in the middle
Every 3x3 magic square has 5 in the centre. That's because the centre cell sits on four of the eight lines, and only 5 balances them all. Then the even numbers (2, 4, 6, 8) go in the corners and the odd numbers (1, 3, 7, 9) go on the edges. Once you place 5, the rest falls out by pairing numbers that add to 10 across the centre.
Every solution is just a rotation or reflection of that one arrangement - so really there's a single magic square hiding behind eight disguises.
The honest way to read your score
Compare your solve time only to your own past solves. Once you know the centre-5 trick it gets fast, which is part of the fun - the puzzle rewards a real insight rather than guessing.
If you enjoy number logic, try sudoku and the number sequence game, and use the memory test online for a repeatable self-check.
⚠ When to talk to a professional
This is a non-medical logic puzzle for fun and practice, not a test of intelligence or brain health. Performance varies with practice and familiarity. If you're worried about a real, persistent change in your thinking, speak with a qualified healthcare professional rather than reading anything into a game score.
