A classic for all ages. The equation on the board is wrong and you may only move matches, never add or remove: taking one changes a digit, placing it changes another digit or the + − × sign — kids practise looking from a different angle, thinking about “take from where” and “put where” at once, and start seeing digits as strokes. 50 levels (the first 30 move one match: addition → subtraction → multiplication; the last 20 move two), all machine-verified. “Matches to go” is computed exactly against every true equation: in 🌱 Easy the matches that get you closer turn green, and once you hold one the spots turn green or orange. You can never get stuck. Tap Dino for a three-step lesson (he talks!).
Goal: the equation on the board is wrong. Only move matches — never add or remove any: move 1 match (2 in later levels) to make it true.
How to move:drag a match with a finger (or the mouse) onto an empty spot and let go; or tap a match and it lifts up; now every empty spot shows as a dotted line — tap one to place it, and that is one move. Tap the lifted match again to put it back. The two matches of the equals sign are glued down.
How digits change: digits are made of “seven segments” like a digital clock: take the middle match off a 6 and it becomes 0; take its lower-left and it is a 5; take one match off an 8 to get 6, 9 or 0; take the upright off a + to get −; × is two slanted matches.
Dino the coach: tap Dino’s avatar by the thumbnail for the tutorial — three steps (a match inside a digit → the sign → two matches). Dino stays quiet while you play, so kids think for themselves.
The way home: under the board, Dino stands on the stone that shows how many matches still need to move; a good move hops forward, a bad one hops back. You can never get stuck — just move it back.
Color hints (🌱 Easy only): green matches are the ones that get you closer; once you hold one, drop it on a green spot (orange means farther). “Matches to go” is computed exactly against every true equation, so the colors never lie.
Difficulty: 🌱 Easy has color hints; 🌿 Normal keeps only the counter; 🌳 Hard keeps only Dino on the stone path (no numbers).
Stuck? Press “🖐 Show me” — a little glow marks the match to take, then the spot to place it; it also shows once after 10 idle seconds. “↩ Undo” takes a move back.
Levels: 50 levels: the first 30 move one match (addition → subtraction → multiplication), the last 20 move two. All machine-verified; there may be more than one true equation, and any of them counts. Tap “Level N ▾” to jump to any level — cleared ones get a ⭐.
Settings: difficulty, level, sound and voice are tucked away by default so little fingers can’t mess with them; tap the 🌼 above the game to open them, tap again to close.
For parents: matchstick equations are a classic for all ages and train looking from a different angle: removing one match changes a digit, placing it changes another digit or the sign — you have to think about “take from where” and “put where” at the same time. Kids naturally start seeing digits as strokes and get plenty of arithmetic practice. Suits ages 6 and up; the two-match levels are for 8+.