Sudoku - Play Daily Puzzles Online for Free | Arkadium (2024)

About Sudoku

Sudoku is one of the most popular puzzles on the planet. It's a great way to exercise your brain, look after your mental health, and pass time during work breaks or at home.

Sudoku is a great way to improve your memory and cognitive skills - it's one of the most popular games that require planning, thought, and concentration. Here at Arkadium, we have a premium collection of games that help improve your memory!

You can play Sudoku online and we offer a great selection of free Sudoku games. These range from beginner-level up to more advanced puzzles that are perfect for experienced players.

We've got so many free Sudoku puzzles that your sure to sharpen your skills while having fun! Pick your puzzle now and start playing one of the world's best strategy games!

What is Sudoku?

Sudoku is a number puzzle that requires you to use logical thinking to fill in blank squares.

The game features a 9x9 grid and 3x3 squares. The aim is for these squares and grids to all contain a number from 1 to 9 using logic to determine which number fits into a specific cell.

How to Play Sudoku Online

Sudoku is one of the most popular puzzles on the planet. One of the main reasons for this is that you can learn how to play Sudoku in no time at all.

Here are some tips and strategies to get any beginner started:

Here are four top tips and strategies that will help get any beginner started when they're playing Sudoku.

Tip 1: Don’t repeat numbers

Sudoku is usually played on a 9x9 grid. Each space needs to be filled with the numbers 1-9. The challenge lies in not repeating any numbers in a row, column or square.

Tip 2: More starting numbers = simpler puzzle

Easier Sudoku puzzles have more numbers added to the grid before you start, making it simpler to solve the challenge.

Tip 3: Think logically when making moves

Sudoku is based on logic, so guessing won't get you very far. In fact, each Sudoku puzzle has only a single solution. For more complex puzzles, advanced solvers often scribble in possible solutions with small numbers so they can refine their solution in less time than a non-documented approach.

Tip 4: Be patient

Patience is key to Sudoku! If you get stuck or need to take a break, our puzzles will automatically save so you can return right where you left off.

We’ve given you some top tips to help improve your grasp of Sudoku. The next step is to take these lessons and use them when you're playing free Sudoku games.

Where Did Sudoku Come From?

The origin of Sudoku comes from puzzles printed in French newspapers during the 19th century. These puzzles asked game players to remove numbers from squares, creating the foundations of the game that is played today.

On 19 November 1892, a Paris newspaper included a puzzle featuring a uniform 9x9 grid containing 3x3 box clusters. However, while it shared important characteristics with Sudoku, it differed from Sudoku in a few key ways:

  • It included double-digit numbers
  • It was solved using arithmetic skills (not logic)

These puzzles remained popular in France until the end of the first World War.

Fast-forward to 1979 and these French puzzles were adapted by a retired American architect, Howard Garns, and published in Dell Magazines as Number Place.

This was then adopted by Japanese company Nikoli in 1984 and published under the name Sūji wa dokushin ni kagiru, before being shortened to Sudoku.

What Does Sudoku Mean?

Sudoku is an abbreviation of the Japanese term 数字は独身に限る(Sūji wa dokushin ni kagiru). This means "numbers are single". Single comes from dokushin, which, essentially means an "unmarried person" in Japanese.

The abbreviation Sudoku was created by Maki Kaji, the president of Japanese puzzle company Nikoli. The name was trademarked by Nikoli and remains registered to this day.

What is the Goal of Sudoku?

Whether you play Sudoku online or in a written publication, the game has a simple aim: to fill all the cells in the 9x9 grid and 3x3 squares with numbers from 1 to 9, with a single occurrence included in the rows, columns, and blocks.

The rules to sudoku are few, but the one rule that cannot be broken is:

"Numbers cannot repeat in any line or column"

The puzzle starts with some boxes pre-filled with a number and others entirely blank. The player's goal is to use logic to slot the correct digits into the blank boxes. Online sudoku is played by selecting boxes with a mouse and then filling numbers using the keyboard. Some players use their iPad and Android tablets for a larger view with added ease of use. They simply tap the box on their screen and select the number they want to use.

Can Sudoku Have Two Answers?

If a Sudoku puzzle has been published correctly then it will have one answer, a fully unique solution.

However, that's not to say that Sudoku can't have two answers, or even multiple solutions. This may happen if you're playing Sudoku online and the puzzle has been left intentionally incomplete (no pre-filled numbers).

Indeed, in the most acute example of an incomplete puzzle, there could be 6,670,903,752,021,072,936,960 answers to the Sudoku game you're playing.

Our free online Sudoku games are all published correctly (with pre-filled numbers).

This means that each puzzle has a logical solution and a single answer.

Interesting Sudoku Facts

Playing free Sudoku is one of the most popular online pastimes for people who want to exercise their brains.

It's a game that requires mental agility, the ability to think logically, and a keen sense of prediction.

But the cognitive benefits of free Sudoku games aren't the only interesting things about the game, as You'll see from these insightful Sudoku facts:

  • The name "Sudoku" is not arbitrary. Rather, it's rooted in two Japanese words:
    • " su " means " number "
    • " doku " means " single "
  • The Japanese do not call the game "Sudoku". Rather, they call it by the name the creator gave it: "Number Place".
  • There's an annual World Sudoku Championship. The first one was held in 2006 in Italy, and it's since been held in different locations.
  • Studies have shown that Sudoku can have a positive impact on one's health, and can even help prevent or ease depression while sharpening focus.
  • The year following Sudoku's rapid growth in popularity (2005) saw a whopping 700% increase in pencil sales!

Play Our Free Online Sudoku Puzzles

You've surely played this newspaper staple. Our free online Sudoku puzzles follow the same traditions, enabling you to play Sudoku 24/7!

We host different difficulty levels, including easy, medium, and hard puzzles. Our comprehensive collection of best-in-class free online Sudoku puzzles is sure to entertain and enthrall you.

Perhaps best of all, our free Sudoku puzzles are updated on a daily basis, so you can come back for a new brain-teasing challenge everyday!

Sudoku has evolved from a puzzle featured in 19th-century French newspapers to become one of the most popular online games on the planet. Playing it can make your mind sharper and help to combat mental illnesses.

So, try our free online Sudoku games now and see how quickly you can solve our puzzles.

Sudoku - Play Daily Puzzles Online for Free | Arkadium (2024)

FAQs

What happens if I solve a Sudoku daily? ›

Stimulates your mind: The game works on your logical thinking process as you are absorbed in solving a puzzle and eventually improve your number skills. Helps with decision-making: Sudoku not only keeps you absorbed in the game for hours, it also helps you with decision-making and time management skills.

How do you play Sudoku daily? ›

They are quite simple. A player should enter numbers into the blank spaces so that each row, column, and a 3x3 section contain the numbers from 1 to 9 once. It is better to start solving Daily Sudoku with the fragment that is already filled with many numbers. This will make it easier to add the missing ones late on.

What is Sudoku good for? ›

It Improves Memory

Memory and logical reasoning work together. You'll begin to recollect certain approaches and remember what worked in earlier Sudoku puzzles as your logical thinking skills advance. You will find yourself remembering the solution to the problem from the game you just finished this morning.

What happens to your brain when you play Sudoku? ›

By engaging in regular Sudoku puzzles, you can strengthen various cognitive skills, including: a. Logic and Reasoning: Sudoku requires logical thinking and reasoning abilities. As you solve the puzzles, you'll learn to analyze patterns, make deductions, and apply critical thinking to find the correct number placements.

What is the trick to solve Sudoku? ›

The most basic strategy to solve a Sudoku puzzle is to first write down, in each empty cell, all possible entries that will not contradict the One Rule with respect to the given cells. If a cell ends up having only one possible entry, it is a "forced" entry that you should fill in.

How long does it take the average person to solve a Sudoku? ›

Take an average person to finish an average sudoku puzzle:- A three-by-three Sudoku puzzle will take between 10 to 30 minutes to finish contingent upon your ability and skill and the trouble of the riddle. Four-by-four Sudoku riddles will take any longer to finish.

What is a good time to do a Sudoku? ›

5 minutes is a good amount of time to do some high-intensity “brain exercise” without getting fatigued. Some Sudoku players make the mistake of “over-thinking” and over-analyzing the Sudoku grid.

What is the rectangle trick in Sudoku? ›

UNIQUE RECTANGLE (TYPE 3) : If two corners of the rectangle in the same Row or Column are "Bi-Value" Cells with the same candidates, if the other two corners of the rectangle are "Three-Value" Cells containing the same candidates plus one "extra" candidate, and if there is a "Bi-Value" Cell containing these "extra" ...

Is there a pattern to Sudoku? ›

Patterns can help with solving puzzles at all skill levels. Easy and medium puzzles will have more patterns at the start. Hard and expert level puzzles may not have patterns at the start but as you add numbers you will start to see patterns emerging.

How do you play Sudoku strategically? ›

5 Best Tips for Playing Sudoku
  1. Look for the Easy Solutions. Many puzzles will leave one or two blanks either in a line or in a box. ...
  2. Seek the Missing Numbers. ...
  3. Keep Scanning the Entire Puzzle. ...
  4. Constantly Re-Evaluate the Grid. ...
  5. Be Patient and Enjoy the Hunt.

What happens if you solve Sudoku every day? ›

The more you play, the better you become. If you play Sudoku daily, you will start to discover that you have almost a sort of “sense memory” for the puzzle grid – you will start to see patterns emerging and develop the ability to seize opportunities more quickly.

Is Sudoku good for seniors? ›

Sudoku puzzles challenge logic skills and mental abilities, which makes them perfect for seniors looking to stay sharp.

Is Sudoku good before bed? ›

Tip #3 Unwind

Stress has a big impact on sleep, so it's important to take time to relax before bed. Read a good book, do crosswords or Sudoku, take a bath or shower, listen to calming music or try a relaxation exercise.

What is the average time to solve a Sudoku? ›

Solving one challenging game of sudoku a day can help players refine their cognitive skills. Medium-level sudoku requires about 8 to 12 minutes to solve on average and can be enjoyed by all ages. Puzzles, at large, are known to boost concentration, relieve anxiety and help de-stress one's mind.

What does playing Sudoku say about you? ›

If you love playing Sudoku, your hidden powers reveal that you are a quick learner. You can spot a pattern or learn new things from the get-go. You do not require too much hand-holding. You may be good at predicting or spotting an opportunity in everyday life as well.

Should you be able to solve Sudoku without guessing? ›

As Anthony and Goodliffe put it, “Guessing avoids finding the logic that most Sudoku puzzles inherently possess and therefore you neither maximize your chance of finding the solution nor improve your skills.” Indeed, a legitimate or “fair” Sudoku grid should require no guessing at all, and our experts advise steering ...

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