Subtraction games
Free Subtraction Games
Every question is a subtraction fact. The game leans on addition facts children know, which is how subtraction gets easy.
Subtraction only
Free to play · no signup · works on phones, tablets and computers
Subtraction is addition in disguise
Counting back works for small numbers and gets slow and error-prone after that. Try 13 − 8 on your fingers. The quicker question is 8 and what make 13? A child who knows 8 + 5 = 13 already has the answer.
That's why subtraction goes so well alongside number bonds and fact families. The teaching guide has the full order.
The fourteen mini games
Toy TrainAnswer down a run of facts and each wagon gets its load
Block StackEvery right answer drops a block on Bo's tower. Five reach the flag
Bond BridgeDrag the plank that completes the number bond and the cart rolls over
Crane CheckIs the stamp on the crate true? Swipe it to the ship or into the water
Bumper CarsTap the rival car wearing the answer and Bo bumps it. First to five
Rocket LaunchPress and hold the right rocket until the fuse burns down
Ten-Frame ShopCount what's on the shelves and see how ten-frames make sums easy
Family HouseOpen every door that belongs to the fact family, and skip the impostor
Missing Brick8 + ? = 13: grab the right brick as it rides past on the conveyor
Kite FlyerTap to fly the kite through the gap with the answer
Toy ClawSend the claw down for the toy wearing the answer
Gacha CapsulesThe machine rattles out two capsules. Open the right one
Harbour HookHold to lower the hook over the rubber duck with the answer
Town BankType three answers on the keypad to open the vaultQuick quiz
Subtraction games FAQ
When should kids start subtraction facts?
Once they're comfortable with addition to 10. They don't need to finish addition first: the two grow together, and every addition fact gives a subtraction fact for free.
Why does my child find subtraction harder than addition?
Mostly because counting back is harder than counting on. Switching to think addition usually helps a lot.
Are these good for 1st grade?
Yes. Common Core standard 1.OA.C.6 covers subtraction within 20, with fluency within 10. Start with the minus 1 and minus 2 facts.
Is Sumtown really free?
Yes. The whole game plays free in your browser, with no signup, no ads and no time limit. All fourteen mini games are in it. An iPhone app is on its way, and you can read what it will add.
An app is on its way
We're building a Sumtown app for iPhone with the parts that need a real app: offline play for car rides, a town map that remembers how far your child got, and a parent report on every fact. Until then, the whole game is free right here.
Coming soon on theApp Store