How to play every BRINXO mode

BRINXO has five solo modes. They all train mental arithmetic, but each one stresses a different part of it: raw speed, consistency, endurance, working memory, or planning. Knowing what a mode rewards is the fastest way to raise your score in it.

Blitz — 60 seconds, as many as you can

Blitz is the signature mode. You have 60 seconds. A question appears with four possible answers; tap the right one and the next question appears immediately.

• Streaks multiply your points. Every three correct answers in a row raise your multiplier by one step, up to ×5. A wrong answer resets the streak, so a long clean run is worth far more than a fast but sloppy one.
• Mistakes cost time. A wrong answer takes 3 seconds off the clock. Guessing is a losing strategy: four random taps cost more time than reading the question properly.
• The questions adapt. As you answer faster and more accurately the questions get harder; if you struggle they ease off. Returning players start slightly below their usual level so the first seconds feel comfortable.

Tip: protect the streak. Once you reach ×3 or ×4, slow down by a fraction of a second on the questions that look tricky. Dropping a ×5 streak to save half a second is almost never worth it.

Daily Challenge — the same 20 questions for everyone

Every day there is one new Daily Challenge: 20 questions, identical for every player, that start easy and finish hard. Each question has its own time limit, and you get one official attempt per day — the score that counts is your first one.

Completing the challenge on consecutive days builds your daily streak. Because everyone answers the same questions, the Daily is the fairest way to compare yourself with friends: share your result and see who was faster.

Tip: the last few questions decide most results. Stay calm in the first half, bank the easy points, and save your concentration for questions 14 to 20.

Endless — how long can you last?

Endless has no overall timer. Instead, every question is on its own clock, the questions keep getting harder, and the time allowed slowly shrinks. You have three lives: a wrong answer or a timeout costs one, and the third mistake ends the run.

Tip: Endless rewards consistency over speed. There is no bonus for answering in half the allowed time, so use the time you have. Most runs end on a careless mistake, not a hard question.

Memory Grid — watch, remember, tap back

A grid of tiles appears and some of them light up for a moment. When they go dark, tap the ones that were lit, in any order. Each round adds tiles to remember, starting at three and growing as you succeed. Three mistakes end the game.

Tip: don’t memorise tiles one by one — memorise shapes. Three lit tiles in a row become “a line”, four in a square become “a box”. Chunking the pattern into a few shapes lets you hold far more tiles in working memory.

Target 24 — Number Forge

You get four numbers. Combine them with + − × ÷, using every number exactly once, to make exactly 24. In BRINXO you build the answer step by step: pick two numbers and an operation, and they merge into a new number; repeat until one number is left. A round has five puzzles, and hints are available if you are stuck — they cost points.

Number Forge is the most thoughtful mode: it trains planning, not just arithmetic. Our Target 24 strategy guide covers it in depth.

Levels, XP and badges

Every finished game earns XP, which raises your level. Personal bests, streaks and badges track your progress over time. If you sign in, your progress is saved to your account and follows you to every device.

Online battles

When you want competition, BRINXO also has Math Tug-of-War (team against team) and Group Battles (up to ten players, the same questions). They are explained in Online battles explained.

Where to start

New players: play a few rounds of Blitz to find your level, then try the Daily Challenge. When the arithmetic starts to feel easy, switch to Number Forge — it will make you think in a completely different way.