How to play
How to play FishyFractions
Everything you need to know to get started, earn coins, and make progress.
Getting started
What is FishyFractions?
FishyFractions is a maths game about fractions for ages 11–14. Fish swim across the screen. You tap one, a fraction question appears, and you drag number tiles to build your answer. Get it right and you earn coins. Spend coins to furnish your personal aquarium.
How do I start?
Go to play.fishyfractions.co.uk. No download and no account needed to start. The game loads immediately.
Do I need an account?
Not to start. If you play without an account, your progress is saved in your browser on the device you are using. If you clear your browser, switch devices, or use a different browser, that progress is lost and cannot be recovered — progress played without an account cannot be transferred to an account later.
A free account saves progress to the cloud so you can pick up on any device. You only need an email address.
The game
How does it work?
Fish swim across the screen. Tap one and a fraction question appears. Drag number tiles into the fraction frame — one for the numerator (top), one for the denominator (bottom). For mixed number questions there is also a slot for the whole number. Once both slots are filled, tap Submit.
What happens when I submit?
- Correct — you earn coins. The fish swims away.
- Correct but not simplified — your value is right but the fraction can be reduced further. You are asked to simplify before the question closes.
- Wrong — the correct answer is shown with step-by-step working. No coins are lost.
What are number tiles?
The blocks with numbers on them at the bottom of the screen. You drag them into the answer frame. Each question gives you a set of tiles to choose from — only some combinations give the right answer.
Topics and access
The game covers eight fraction topics in order. Topics 1–4 are free. Topics 5–8 require a premium account (one-time £3.99).
How difficulty works
Difficulty adjusts automatically based on how you are doing. Answer correctly and quickly, and questions get harder — bigger numbers, more steps. Struggle, and the game eases back.
You never see a difficulty indicator. There are no levels to fail and no "sent back to the start" moment. The fish just get more interesting — or the numbers get a little gentler — depending on what you need.
Coins
Correct answers earn coins. A speed bonus adds a small extra amount for fast answers — you do not need to rush; it is a reward for fluency, not a penalty for thinking time.
Coins cannot be bought with real money. They are earned only through correct answers. The coin rate is the same in both free and premium.
The aquarium
The Aquarium is your personal underwater tank. You furnish it with items from the in-game shop using your coins.
Free version
- Up to 5 placeable items
- Fish items only — no plants, decorations, lighting, or special items
- Two backgrounds: Tropical Reef and Arctic Ocean
- One substrate (sandy bottom)
Premium version
- Unlimited items
- All fish, plants, decorations, backgrounds, lighting, and special items
- All substrates
Parent dashboard and child profiles
Premium accounts include a parent dashboard. From the dashboard you can see each child's progress through the topic areas and their current coin balance.
You can add up to three child profiles under one premium account. Each profile has its own progress, aquarium, and coin balance. Child profiles are a premium feature.
Settings and accessibility
The settings panel is accessible from the menu icon during play. Options include:
- Text size — adjustable for easier reading
- Dyslexia-friendly font — available in settings
- High contrast mode — for players who need stronger colour contrast
- Reduced motion — turns off animated backgrounds; fish still swim
- Sound — can be muted