What is Sumbriska?
Sumbriska is a number bridge puzzle for iPhone where you flip bridges between islands until every island adds up to its exact target. Each bridge holds two numbers, one for each end. Flip it and the numbers swap sides, so one tap changes two totals. The rules take a minute to learn; the later boards take real thought.
The board above is a small version of a Practice board. In the app the boards grow, the regions change, and the help stays free: hints, Undo and step explanations never cost XP.
How a number bridge puzzle works, in three moves
- Read the targets. The big number on each island is what it needs. The small tag shows what it has right now.
- Flip a bridge. The two numbers trade ends. One island goes up, the other goes down, and you see both change.
- Balance the harbor. Keep flipping until every island turns bright. Each board shows a par, so you can see how tidy your solution was.
One tap, two islands: that is the whole trick, and it never stops being interesting.
Inside the app
Store screenshots. Swipe for more.
Is Sumbriska free? What you get and what the Voyage Pass adds
Two full regions and three ways to play are free; the Voyage Pass is an optional subscription. There are no ads in either version.
| Free | Voyage Pass | |
|---|---|---|
| Regions | 1 and 2 | All 6 |
| Daily board, The Deep, Harbor Run | Yes | Yes |
| Shipyard and Observatory side boards | No | Yes |
| Gale Run, 3-4 ring workshop | No | Yes |
| Hints, Undo, explanations | Yes, no XP cost | Yes, no XP cost |
| Price | $0 | $4.99/month or $29.99/year, no free trial |
Six regions to clear
Lantern Harbor, Orchard Isles, Canal Quarter, Tidal Marsh, Lantern Reef and Twin Beacons. Each one changes your island as you clear it, and Tide Orders give you small daily goals.
A decision we made
Hints never cost XP. Plenty of puzzle games punish you for asking. We would rather you learn the logic, so the Logic Lens explains the step instead of just placing it.
Who this math puzzle game is for
Good fit: people who like Sudoku, Kakuro or KenKen but want something that feels less like a worksheet. Families, too: child profiles have no purchases and no links, and the adult area sits behind a PIN or Face ID.
Pick something else if you want a fast reflex game, multiplayer, or a puzzle you can finish without any arithmetic. Every board here is addition, all the way down.
Questions about Sumbriska
How do you play a number bridge puzzle like Sumbriska?
Each island shows a target number. Every bridge carries two numbers, one for each end. Tap a bridge to flip it and the two numbers swap islands, so both totals change at once. The board is solved when every island adds up to exactly its target.
Is Sumbriska free?
The free download includes regions 1 and 2, the Daily board, The Deep and Harbor Run. The optional Voyage Pass ($4.99 a month or $29.99 a year, no free trial) adds regions 3 to 6, all side boards, Gale Run, the 3-4 ring workshop and premium cosmetics.
Is it the same as Hashi or Bridges?
No. In Hashi you draw bridges between islands. In Sumbriska the bridges are already there; you decide which way each one faces, and each flip sends a different number to each island. It is closer to a balancing puzzle than a drawing puzzle.
Do hints cost anything?
No. Hints, Undo and step explanations are always available and never cost XP.
Can kids play it?
Yes. Child profiles have no purchases and no links, and the adult area is protected by a PIN or Face ID. There are no ads and no accounts.
Does Sumbriska work offline?
Yes, fully offline. The listing says no data is collected.
What are Two Tides boards?
Boards where one bridge layout has to solve two different tide schedules at once, so the same arrangement must satisfy two sets of targets.
Flip your first bridge
Start with the Daily board. One board, a few minutes, no ads and no account.
Updated November 2026
More about Sumbriska
- Free bridges puzzle apps with no ads, comparedFour bridges (Hashi) puzzle apps for iPhone checked against their App Store listings: price, ads, what is free and what costs extra.
- Early finisher math puzzles: free printableEight printable number bridge puzzles for early finishers, from 3 islands to 6, with an answer key. Free PDF, no sign-up, ready to copy.
- Number puzzle games for kids with no ads: a parent guideWhat to check before handing a child a number puzzle app: ads, purchases, links, data. A parent guide with a playable Sumbriska bridge demo.
- What to play after sudoku: a first-week guide to SumbriskaBored of sudoku? Sort which sudoku habits carry over, then follow a 7-day first week in Sumbriska, a number bridge puzzle. Free on iPhone, no ads.
Related puzzle games
- Free bridges puzzle apps with no ads, comparedFour bridges (Hashi) puzzle apps for iPhone checked against their App Store listings: price, ads, what is free and what costs extra.
- Number puzzle games for kids with no ads: a parent guideWhat to check before handing a child a number puzzle app: ads, purchases, links, data. A parent guide with a playable Sumbriska bridge demo.
- Early finisher math puzzles: free printableEight printable number bridge puzzles for early finishers, from 3 islands to 6, with an answer key. Free PDF, no sign-up, ready to copy.
- What to play after sudoku: a first-week guide to SumbriskaBored of sudoku? Sort which sudoku habits carry over, then follow a 7-day first week in Sumbriska, a number bridge puzzle. Free on iPhone, no ads.