How your points are scored
Every puzzle you solve earns points, and all your points together set your fox rank. This page shows how the scoring works, with all the numbers. The tables come straight from the same calculation the game uses.
The short version
- What counts is the difficulty tier, your solve time and your mistakes. The level number doesn't matter.
- Harder tiers give considerably more, and each puzzle type has its own weight.
- Your best result per level counts.
- All points together set your rank.
Classic Sudoku
Up to the first time mark you get the tier's full points. After that they drop evenly until they reach 30 percent at the second mark; time alone never takes you lower. Each mistake subtracts a fixed amount. A solved puzzle never scores below 10 percent of the maximum.
| Tier | Max | Full up to | 30 % from | Per mistake |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy | 1,000 | 5 min | 12 min | 30 |
| Medium | 2,000 | 10 min | 20 min | 45 |
| Hard | 3,500 | 20 min | 40 min | 60 |
| Extreme | 5,000 | 35 min | 75 min | 80 |
You get three stars for finishing without mistakes before the first mark, two for finishing before the second mark with only a few mistakes, otherwise one. The daily challenge is scored the same way, in that day's tier; there your fastest run of the day counts.
The other puzzle types
X-Sudoku, Jigsaw and Killer Sudoku, Kakuro, nonograms, Mini Sudoku and 16×16 are scored like a classic Sudoku on Medium, so at most 2,000 points. The result is then multiplied by the weight of the type and tier. For Crowns and binary puzzles the points follow your stars, so your time; in binary puzzles hints also cost a little. Foxhold has its own scoring from lives, filled grid and time and gives at most Easy 1,800, Medium 4,200, Hard 7,560 points.
| Puzzle type | Easy | Medium | Hard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sudoku (classic) | ×1.0 | ×1.0 | ×1.0 |
| X-Sudoku | ×0.7 | ×1.0 | ×1.3 |
| Jigsaw Sudoku | ×0.8 | ×1.1 | ×1.4 |
| Killer Sudoku | ×0.8 | ×1.1 | ×1.4 |
| Kakuro | ×0.8 | ×1.2 | ×1.5 |
| Nonogram | ×0.7 | ×1.0 | ×1.3 |
| Mini Sudoku 6×6 | ×0.18 | ×0.25 | ×0.33 |
| Sudoku 16×16 | ×1.5 | ×2.0 | ×2.5 |
| Binary puzzle | ×0.75 | ×1.0 | ×1.3 |
| Crowns | ×0.15 | ×0.2 | ×0.28 |
| Foxhold | ×1.0 | ×1.4 | ×1.8 |
Why weights? A Mini Sudoku is solved in a few minutes, a 16×16 can take half an hour. The weight makes every type roughly equally worthwhile. The values are still provisional and get adjusted to real solve times; this page always shows the current state.
Hints and mistakes
You can take up to 3 hints per puzzle. Each hint adds 60 seconds to your scored time, each mistake 30 seconds. The scored time counts for best times and leaderboards. For points in classic Sudoku, mistakes subtract directly, as in the table above; hints cost no points there.
What counts in the end
Your best result per level counts: if you replay a level and score more, it replaces the old result, otherwise nothing changes. Points from every puzzle type and from the daily challenge add up to one total, and that total sets your rank.
To the 19 fox ranks →Frequently asked questions about points
Does a higher level give more points?
No. The level number doesn't affect your points. What counts is the difficulty tier, your solve time and your mistakes, plus the weight of the puzzle type for the other puzzles.
Is it worth replaying a level?
Yes, if you do better. Your best result per level counts. If you score more the second time, it replaces the old result; if you score less, nothing changes.