Master the Art of Sudoku

Challenge your mind with the world's most popular number puzzle game. Play online, track your progress, and improve your skills.

Play Sudoku Online

Select Difficulty

Loading game...

Community Stats
24,873Total Players
1,482Active Today
3.2MPuzzles Solved
1:42Record Time

Daily Challenge

Complete today's special puzzle to earn bonus points and climb the leaderboard!

Start Daily Challenge

Everything You Need to Know About Sudoku

How to Play

Sudoku is played on a 9×9 grid divided into 3×3 boxes. The objective is to fill the grid with digits so that each column, each row, and each of the nine 3×3 boxes contains all of the digits from 1 to 9 exactly once.

The puzzle begins with some cells already filled with numbers. Your goal is to fill in the empty cells using logic and deduction, not guessing.

5
3
6
9
8
7
1
9
5
6

Strategies

From basic scanning techniques to advanced patterns like X-Wings and Swordfish, mastering Sudoku strategies will help you solve even the most challenging puzzles.

Learn how to use elimination, pencil marks, naked pairs, hidden pairs, and many more techniques to improve your solving skills and tackle harder puzzles.

Basic Techniques

  • Scanning
  • Elimination
  • Pencil Marks

Advanced Techniques

  • X-Wing
  • Swordfish
  • XY-Wing

History

Despite its Japanese name, Sudoku's origins can be traced back to 18th century Switzerland, where mathematician Leonhard Euler developed "Latin Squares" - grids where each number appears exactly once in each row and column.

The modern Sudoku puzzle was created in 1979 by Howard Garns, and became a global phenomenon in 2004 when it was introduced to British newspapers.

1700s

Leonhard Euler creates Latin Squares

1979

Howard Garns creates "Number Place"

1984

Introduced to Japan as "Sudoku"

2004

Becomes a global phenomenon

Benefits

Sudoku isn't just fun - it's good for your brain! Regular Sudoku practice has been linked to improved memory, enhanced logical reasoning, and better concentration.

Studies suggest that adults who regularly solve puzzles like Sudoku have cognitive abilities equivalent to those 8-10 years younger than their actual age.

Cognitive Benefits

  • Improves memory
  • Enhances logical reasoning
  • Develops problem-solving skills

Health Benefits

  • Reduces stress
  • Provides mental workout
  • May prevent cognitive decline

Variants

Beyond the classic 9×9 grid, Sudoku comes in many exciting variants that add new rules and challenges to keep the puzzle fresh and engaging.

From Killer Sudoku with its arithmetic component to Samurai Sudoku with five overlapping grids, there's a variant for every skill level and interest.

Popular Variants

  • Killer Sudoku
  • Samurai Sudoku
  • Hyper Sudoku
  • Diagonal Sudoku

Size Variants

  • Mini (4×4)
  • Standard (9×9)
  • 12×12
  • 16×16

Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers to common questions about Sudoku, from basic rules to advanced solving techniques. Our comprehensive FAQ covers everything you need to know about the world's most popular number puzzle.

Is Sudoku good for brain health?

Yes, Sudoku exercises logical thinking, improves memory, enhances concentration, and may help prevent cognitive decline...

Can Sudoku be solved without guessing?

Yes, properly constructed Sudoku puzzles can always be solved through logical deduction without guessing...

What's the best strategy for beginners?

Beginners should start with easy puzzles and focus on mastering basic techniques like scanning and elimination...