Sudoku has become a global favourite, offering the perfect mix of logic, patience, and problem-solving. And for anyone starting out to play, the first question obviously is “how to play sudoku?”. We’ve got you covered! We’ll walk you through what sudoku is, its fascinating history, the benefits of playing, the different types, and finally a simple step-by-step guide.
We’ll also share resources like free online sudoku and recommend sudoku books that you can use to sharpen your skills.
What is Sudoku?
Sudoku is a number-placement puzzle played on a 9×9 grid divided into smaller 3×3 squares. The goal is simple: fill each row, column, and box with the numbers 1 to 9 without repeating any. The beauty of sudoku is that it requires no maths—just logic and attention to detail.
A Quick History of Sudoku
Although sudoku feels modern, its roots stretch back to 18th-century Switzerland. It was later popularised in Japan in the 1980s, where it got the name Sudoku—short for “single number.” By the early 2000s, the puzzle spread worldwide, becoming a newspaper and magazine staple. Today, it’s equally at home on mobile apps, puzzle books, and websites.
Benefits of Playing Sudoku
Sudoku isn’t just fun—it’s good for you. Regular play improves concentration, memory, and logical thinking. It offers a mindful break from screens, reduces stress, and helps keep the brain sharp at any age. For kids, sudoku develops pattern recognition and patience. For adults, it provides a quick escape from daily pressures while exercising the mind.
Why is Sudoku Popular?
The charm lies in its accessibility. Anyone can play—there’s no need for special knowledge, just logical reasoning. It also scales with your skill level: beginners can enjoy easy grids, while experts can spend hours cracking fiendishly hard puzzles. Add to this its portability in sudoku books or quick play on free online sudoku sites, and it’s easy to see why sudoku continues to be loved across generations.
Types of Sudoku
Classic Sudoku (9×9):
The most common format.
Mini Sudoku (4×4 or 6×6):
Great for beginners and children.
Samurai Sudoku:
Overlapping grids for extra challenge.
Killer Sudoku:
Combines sudoku with maths, adding sum rules.
Jigsaw Sudoku
Irregular regions instead of standard 3×3 boxes.
How to Play Sudoku (Exact Rules + Steps)
Sudoku is a game where you fill numbers into a big square. The big square has 9 rows (across), 9 columns (up and down), and 9 little boxes (3×3 blocks). Your job is to put the numbers 1 to 9 in every row, every column, and every little box—without repeating any number. Some numbers will already be filled in to help you start.
Step-by-step
- Look at the puzzle. Some numbers are already in the grid. These are clues.
- Remember the rule. Each row, each column, and each small 3×3 box must have numbers 1 to 9, with no repeats.
- Find the easy spots. If a row, column, or box has only one empty square, put in the missing number.
- Check by number. Pick a number, like 5, and see where it can go. If only one square works, put it there.
- Use notes. If you’re not sure, you can write small numbers in the corner of the box using a pencil to show what might go there.
- Cross out. When you place a number, check the row, column, and box around it. That number can’t go anywhere else there.
- Look for clues. Sometimes a number can only fit in one spot in a row, column, or box—put it there!
- Keep going. Do a little at a time. Fill in what you know, then look again.
- No guessing! Sudoku is solved with thinking, not luck.
- Finish check. When you’re done, every row, column, and box should have all the numbers 1 to 9, with no repeats.
Tip: Mini versions (4×4 or 6×6) follow the same rules. If you are starting out, practice with these. Once you get a hold of the rules and logic, move on to the 9×9 grid.
Trivia: Did you know sudoku puzzles are published in over 100 countries and feature in competitive world championships?
Explore our collection of sudoku books. Books give you the option of doing it at your own pace and reduces screen time further!
Sudoku picks for you:
