Puzzles
Play Sudoku online
Nine by nine squares, nine blocks, and every digit exactly once per row, column and block. Every puzzle is generated fresh and has exactly one solution – no guesswork, only logic. Pencil marks help you rule things out.
Play Sudoku nowFree · no download · no ads
Where Sudoku comes from
The basic idea goes back to Leonhard Euler and his Latin squares. As a puzzle it appeared in 1979 under the name Number Place in the American Dell magazine, invented by the architect Howard Garns. In 1984 the Japanese publisher Nikoli released it as Sudoku, and in 2004 the New Zealander Wayne Gould made it a worldwide craze through The Times of London.
How it works
Goal
Every row, every column and every 3×3 box holds the digits 1 to 9 – each exactly once.
Controls
Click a cell, then type a digit. 0, Delete or Backspace clears it. Arrow keys move the selection.
Notes
The "Notes" switch writes small candidate digits into a cell so you can keep options open. Placing a real number automatically clears the matching notes in its row, column and box.
Help
Show errors – highlights numbers that contradict another. Hint – fills one correct cell. Hints are limited and cost points.
Points
A base score per level, plus a time bonus, minus your hints.
Three tips for better results
- 1Start with the digit that already appears most often – that is where forced squares turn up.
- 2Work block by block rather than row by row: three blocks side by side often give a position away.
- 3When you get stuck, pencil in every candidate for a single row – a pair usually stands out there.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sudoku free to play?
Yes. Sudoku runs straight in your browser, costs nothing and needs no installation. There are no ads and no paywall – the chips in the game are play money and cannot be bought.
Do I need an account to play Sudoku?
You create a profile with a name and a PIN, but no account is created on anybody else's server. Scores, chips, achievements and unlocked motifs live only in your own browser.
How do you play Sudoku?
Goal Every row, every column and every 3×3 box holds the digits 1 to 9 – each exactly once.
Where does Sudoku come from?
The basic idea goes back to Leonhard Euler and his Latin squares. As a puzzle it appeared in 1979 under the name Number Place in the American Dell magazine, invented by the architect Howard Garns. In 1984 the Japanese publisher Nikoli released it as Sudoku, and in 2004 the New Zealander Wayne Gould made it a worldwide craze through The Times of London.
Does Sudoku work on a phone?
The site adapts to the screen size, and anything you can click can also be tapped. Games controlled with arrow keys do need a keyboard, though.
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