How Genius Score Works

Your Genius Score is a single number that captures how much you play, how hard you play, how varied your play is, and how cleverly you solve. It is computed live every time it is read — there is no stored value to drift.

The Formula

Score = Σ per_puzzle_contribution
      + (distinct_types_played × 5)
      + (current_streak × 1)

Each first-completion contributes one number that is then summed across every puzzle you have ever finished:

per_puzzle = max(0.5,
                 base_credit + speed_bonus − hint_penalty)

The Three Per-Puzzle Terms

speed_factor = max(0, min(1, (estimated_time − your_time) / estimated_time)). Solve in half the estimated time → speed_factor = 0.5. Take longer than the estimate → speed_factor = 0 (no bonus, but no penalty either).

difficulty_mult uses the same weights as XP: easy=1, medium=2, hard=3, expert=4. So speed and hints both matter more on harder puzzles.

The 0.5 Floor

Every puzzle you finish credits at least 0.5 points, no matter how many hints you used. Showing up and finishing always counts for something. The floor also means hint usage on one puzzle never subtracts from another puzzle's earnings — each puzzle's contribution is independent.

Worked Example 1: Hard Puzzle, Fast, No Hints

You solve a hard puzzle in half the estimated time with zero hints.

• base_credit = 5 (hard)
• speed_factor = 0.5 → speed_bonus = 0.5 × 3 × 0.4 = 0.6
• hint_penalty = 0

contribution = max(0.5, 5 + 0.6 − 0) = 5.6

Worked Example 2: Same Puzzle, Maxed Hints

Same hard puzzle, same speed, but you use all 4 hints (the per-puzzle cap for hard).

contribution = max(0.5, 5 + 0.6 − (4 × 3 × 0.5))
             = max(0.5, 5 + 0.6 − 6)
             = max(0.5, −0.4)
             = 0.5  ← floor kicks in

The puzzle still credits 0.5 because you finished it, but the speed bonus and most of the difficulty credit are wiped out by the hints.

Worked Example 3: Expert with One Hint

Expert puzzle, solved in 90% of estimated time, used 1 hint.

base = 7
speed_bonus  = 0.1 × 4 × 0.4 = 0.16
hint_penalty = 1   × 4 × 0.5 = 2.00

contribution = max(0.5, 7 + 0.16 − 2.00) = 5.16

A single hint on an expert puzzle costs 2 points. Significant but not punishing — it can be worth it to keep momentum on a tough puzzle.

Variety and Streak Bonuses

Beyond per-puzzle contributions:

• +5 per distinct puzzle type you have played (max +55 across all 11 types)
• +1 per day of your current streak

These reward exploration and consistency. Note: your streak only counts for the bonus if your last activity was today or yesterday — see your dashboard streak card for the live value.

What is a “good” Genius Score?

It scales with how much you play, so there is no fixed number. Rough sense:

• Solving 20 medium puzzles, no hints, modest speed → ~50
• Active player across all puzzle types → 100+
• Top of the leaderboard → 130+