HOW TO PLAY

LULLO GAME is an online game that builds skills in combinatorics and deduction. You have to guess a number, a word or an equality through successive tries. After each try, colours tell the player which characters are right and whether they are in the right place.

On the start page the player also chooses whether to have six tries to guess the hidden expression (challenge mode) or an unlimited number of tries (practice mode).

NUMBERS

In NUMBERS mode, the player has to guess a hidden number: 4 digits at level 1, 5 digits at level 2 and 6 digits at level 3. The player starts by entering any number and gets visual feedback. In the try 7 3 2 6 in the picture below, the 3 is purple because it is a right digit in the right place. The 6 is yellow because it is in the hidden number but in a different position. The 7 and the 2 are grey, so they are not in the secret number.

A good next try could be, for example, 6 3 1 4. Note also that the solution never starts with 0, and that at levels 2 and 3 the same digit can appear more than once.

ITALIAN WORDS

In ITALIAN WORDS mode, the player has to guess a hidden Italian word: 4 letters at level 1, 5 letters at level 2 and 6 letters at level 3.

Each try must be a real word: the game accepts it only if it exists in the Italian dictionary (verb forms, plural nouns and so on are allowed). Random sequences of letters are not accepted.

In the example below with the word FAME (Italian for hunger), the letters A and E are purple (right and in the right place). The letter M is yellow (it is there but must move), while the F is grey (it is not in the hidden word).

A sensible next try is, for example, MARE (Italian for sea).

ITALIAN WORDS mode is inspired by WORDLE.

EQUALITIES

This last mode is the most interesting mathematically, because what you write must really be a correct equality.

The player enters a sequence of numbers and operations (+, -, ×, :) that always contains exactly one equals sign (=). The game accepts the try only if the value on the left of the equals sign matches the value on the right.

The picture below shows the try 3 + 4 = 7. The symbols + and = are purple (right and in the right place). The number 4 is yellow (there but out of place), while the 3 and the 7 are grey (not there).

At level 1 the equalities use addition, subtraction and multiplication; level 2 adds division and longer expressions.

Finally, when evaluating expressions, multiplications and divisions come before additions and subtractions. Operations can appear on either side of the equals sign (e.g. 3 + 5 = 2 × 4).

EQUALITIES mode is inspired by NERDLE.

MASTERMIND MODE

With two players and the "unlimited" option, the challenge gets harder: Lullo Game becomes the classic Mastermind. One player uses the computer and enters the tries the other dictates. After each try, the player with the device only says how many purple and yellow squares came up, without showing the grid, that is without saying which squares or characters they are (for example "2 purple and 1 yellow").

Guessing the hidden expression is very hard and takes many tries. Once the player has guessed it, the roles swap. Alternatively, you can play against each other on two devices (each player takes both roles, with one try per turn): whoever guesses in fewer tries wins.