🔎 Video gamesGrade 4Reading: grades 3-4AdditionSubtractionMultiplicationRoundingDivision
The Great Arcade Glitch
The Chief Programmer's master code has been stolen from the arcade machine! A mysterious Glitch Boss snuck past the firewall, scrambled the level data, and hid inside the high-score leaderboard. You must decode the clues, solve the math mysteries, and reboot the system before it is game over!
Suspects
Possible suspects
Cross off a row as each clue rules it out. On screen, tap a row.
21 of 21 still in play
| Name | Main Power | Special Item | Controller Setup | Sprite Color | Game Hazard |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samus | pixel shield | speed boots | uses left-hand controller | hot pink sprite | lava hazards |
| Bowser | pixel shield | speed boots | uses left-hand controller | bright green sprite | spike traps |
| Link | freeze ray | laser sword | uses left-hand controller | hot pink sprite | water levels |
| Sans | double jump | magnet glove | uses right-hand controller | bright green sprite | spike traps |
| Alex | fireball blast | speed boots | uses right-hand controller | neon blue sprite | water levels |
| Peach | double jump | magnet glove | uses right-hand controller | neon blue sprite | lava hazards |
| Luigi | teleport dash | laser sword | uses left-hand controller | hot pink sprite | water levels |
| Steve | fireball blast | speed boots | uses right-hand controller | neon blue sprite | lava hazards |
| Kirby | pixel shield | magnet glove | uses right-hand controller | hot pink sprite | water levels |
| Spyro | pixel shield | gravity belt | uses right-hand controller | hot pink sprite | lava hazards |
| Tails | double jump | laser sword | uses left-hand controller | neon blue sprite | water levels |
| Donkey Kong | teleport dash | shrink potion | uses left-hand controller | hot pink sprite | water levels |
| Tom Nook | freeze ray | speed boots | uses right-hand controller | neon blue sprite | lava hazards |
| Crash | freeze ray | gravity belt | uses left-hand controller | hot pink sprite | water levels |
| Wario | freeze ray | laser sword | uses left-hand controller | hot pink sprite | spike traps |
| Sonic | pixel shield | speed boots | uses right-hand controller | hot pink sprite | water levels |
| Pac-Man | double jump | laser sword | uses right-hand controller | bright green sprite | lava hazards |
| Yoshi | double jump | laser sword | uses left-hand controller | hot pink sprite | water levels |
| Ash Ketchum | freeze ray | shrink potion | uses left-hand controller | neon blue sprite | spike traps |
| Mario | fireball blast | shrink potion | uses right-hand controller | neon blue sprite | spike traps |
| Toad | fireball blast | magnet glove | uses left-hand controller | bright green sprite | lava hazards |
Clue 1
Addition
We need to count how many gold coins are scattered around the level lobby. Adding up the piles will unlock the first clue vault.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
T
7208
7104
3970
7035
4687
2244
T
7208
7796
7104
3049
3667
7306
7306
5732
3667
3970
7306
8810
3667
T
7208
8631
3970
4024
7323
4024
7035
7323
4024
7326
2244
T
7208
5333
3049
3970
4687
T
7208
3534 + 3674 =T
2325 + 1645 =E
2987 + 4336 =R
4149 + 2886 =G
2150 + 4954 =H
2899 + 4427 =V
2140 + 1884 =A
3147 + 1540 =L
3349 + 5461 =N
2609 + 4697 =S
5108 + 3523 =W
2645 + 5151 =C
1343 + 1706 =B
1209 + 2458 =O
1317 + 927 =I
3960 + 1772 =D
3217 + 2116 =Y
0/17 letters found
Clue 2
Subtraction
The game health bar is dropping fast. Calculate how many heart containers we lost to decode this corrupted data file.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
T
7472
2759
3657
4361
3657
3481
T
7472
2759
2144
3920
8743
6767
3008
3920
T
7472
6581
3008
4361
4361
3657
6581
4507
2144
8608
2144
6767
T
7472
1244
1779
2144
T
7472
3657
8743
10947 - 3475 =T
2779 - 1000 =V
6818 - 4059 =H
9130 - 4623 =W
9343 - 735 =S
7614 - 3957 =E
7912 - 1145 =C
5232 - 1312 =N
6256 - 3248 =O
6094 - 3950 =A
10461 - 1718 =D
5894 - 4650 =I
4756 - 1275 =F
11313 - 4732 =R
5149 - 788 =L
0/15 letters found
Clue 3
Multiplication facts (1-12)
A grid of mystery item blocks has appeared. Multiplying the rows and columns of blocks reveals the hidden code.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
T
18
40
8
22
108
120
120
84
108
110
120
50
54
T
18
40
3
108
110
T
18
40
8
144
84
T
18
8
63
120
8
22
8
120
54
6 × 3 =T
5 × 8 =H
7 × 9 =R
12 × 12 =W
10 × 12 =L
12 × 7 =A
10 × 11 =N
9 × 6 =S
10 × 5 =O
1 × 3 =P
1 × 8 =E
12 × 9 =I
11 × 2 =V
0/13 letters found
Clue 4
Rounding
The radar screen is glitching and can only show rounded numbers. Round the distance to the nearest ten to clear the signal.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
T
700
5000
1700
9000
20
1700
500
1700
90
2300
9000
20
110
290
1700
3000
1700
170
200
500
2900
200
500
70
430
1100
200
T
700
20
5000
1700
9000
Round 732 to the nearest hundredT
Round 114 to the nearest tenO
Round 2,895 to the nearest hundredP
Round 2,335 to the nearest hundredA
Round 291 to the nearest tenV
Round 9,249 to the nearest thousandS
Round 19 to the nearest tenC
Round 87 to the nearest tenW
Round 1,081 to the nearest hundredL
Round 74 to the nearest tenK
Round 5,120 to the nearest thousandH
Round 434 to the nearest tenG
Round 166 to the nearest tenD
Round 2,617 to the nearest thousandR
Round 207 to the nearest hundredI
Round 460 to the nearest hundredN
Round 1,662 to the nearest hundredE
0/17 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
To bypass the final boss gate, we must share the remaining power potions equally among our team members.
First solve each problem. Then find each answer in the list below and cross that sentence out. One sentence will be left — that's exactly what the villain did!
Step 1 — solve these
14 ÷ 7 = ?
44 ÷ 4 = ?
11 ÷ 11 = ?
55 ÷ 11 = ?
48 ÷ 12 = ?
36 ÷ 6 = ?
7 ÷ 1 = ?
120 ÷ 12 = ?
27 ÷ 3 = ?
72 ÷ 6 = ?
88 ÷ 11 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain leaped over the castle defense wall, then sliced through the backup power cables.
2.The villain warped past the security firewall, then sliced through the backup power cables.
3.The villain froze the game screen solid, then sliced through the backup power cables.
4.The villain blocked the antivirus drone, then pulled the master cartridge from its slot.
5.The villain blocked the antivirus drone, then floated up to the top level of the grid.
6.The villain froze the game screen solid, then pulled the master cartridge from its slot.
7.The villain warped past the security firewall, then zipped away with the golden floppy disk.
8.The villain leaped over the castle defense wall, then zipped away with the golden floppy disk.
9.The villain burned down the save file directory, then zipped away with the golden floppy disk.
10.The villain warped past the security firewall, then pulled the master cartridge from its slot.
11.The villain warped past the security firewall, then shrank the main game code into a tiny byte.
12.The villain blocked the antivirus drone, then sliced through the backup power cables.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Great Arcade Glitch
Culprit: Link (freeze ray · laser sword · uses left-hand controller · hot pink sprite · water levels)
- Clue 1 (Addition): "THE GLITCH BOSS DOES NOT WEAR A GRAVITY BELT"3534 + 3674 = 7208 (T) · 2325 + 1645 = 3970 (E) · 2987 + 4336 = 7323 (R) · 4149 + 2886 = 7035 (G) · 2150 + 4954 = 7104 (H) · 2899 + 4427 = 7326 (V) · 2140 + 1884 = 4024 (A) · 3147 + 1540 = 4687 (L) · 3349 + 5461 = 8810 (N) · 2609 + 4697 = 7306 (S) · 5108 + 3523 = 8631 (W) · 2645 + 5151 = 7796 (C) · 1343 + 1706 = 3049 (B) · 1209 + 2458 = 3667 (O) · 1317 + 927 = 2244 (I) · 3960 + 1772 = 5732 (D) · 3217 + 2116 = 5333 (Y)
- Clue 2 (Subtraction): "THE LEFT HAND CONTROLLER WAS ACTIVATED"10947 - 3475 = 7472 (T) · 2779 - 1000 = 1779 (V) · 6818 - 4059 = 2759 (H) · 9130 - 4623 = 4507 (W) · 9343 - 735 = 8608 (S) · 7614 - 3957 = 3657 (E) · 7912 - 1145 = 6767 (C) · 5232 - 1312 = 3920 (N) · 6256 - 3248 = 3008 (O) · 6094 - 3950 = 2144 (A) · 10461 - 1718 = 8743 (D) · 5894 - 4650 = 1244 (I) · 4756 - 1275 = 3481 (F) · 11313 - 4732 = 6581 (R) · 5149 - 788 = 4361 (L)
- Clue 3 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE VILLAIN LOST HP IN THE WATER LEVELS"6 × 3 = 18 (T) · 5 × 8 = 40 (H) · 7 × 9 = 63 (R) · 12 × 12 = 144 (W) · 10 × 12 = 120 (L) · 12 × 7 = 84 (A) · 10 × 11 = 110 (N) · 9 × 6 = 54 (S) · 10 × 5 = 50 (O) · 1 × 3 = 3 (P) · 1 × 8 = 8 (E) · 12 × 9 = 108 (I) · 11 × 2 = 22 (V)
- Clue 4 (Rounding): "THE SCENE WAS COVERED IN PINK GLITCHES"Round 732 to the nearest hundred = 700 (T) · Round 114 to the nearest ten = 110 (O) · Round 2,895 to the nearest hundred = 2900 (P) · Round 2,335 to the nearest hundred = 2300 (A) · Round 291 to the nearest ten = 290 (V) · Round 9,249 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (S) · Round 19 to the nearest ten = 20 (C) · Round 87 to the nearest ten = 90 (W) · Round 1,081 to the nearest hundred = 1100 (L) · Round 74 to the nearest ten = 70 (K) · Round 5,120 to the nearest thousand = 5000 (H) · Round 434 to the nearest ten = 430 (G) · Round 166 to the nearest ten = 170 (D) · Round 2,617 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (R) · Round 207 to the nearest hundred = 200 (I) · Round 460 to the nearest hundred = 500 (N) · Round 1,662 to the nearest hundred = 1700 (E)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 3) → Link14 ÷ 7 = 2 · 44 ÷ 4 = 11 · 11 ÷ 11 = 1 · 55 ÷ 11 = 5 · 48 ÷ 12 = 4 · 36 ÷ 6 = 6 · 7 ÷ 1 = 7 · 120 ÷ 12 = 10 · 27 ÷ 3 = 9 · 72 ÷ 6 = 12 · 88 ÷ 11 = 8
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 4 math
- Math topics
- Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Rounding, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Great Arcade Glitch — set in The Pixel Kingdom inside a retro arcade cabinet
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects