Sudoku, an intriguing number-filled game that can be played anywhere, continues to be a popular and stimulating game for individuals worldwide. Many people love Sudoku because it is more than just a fun pastime; it challenges your mind and helps you improve your concentration and logical thinking. However, did you know that there are different types of Sudoku puzzles?
This blog will introduce you to some different types of Sudoku puzzles you may not have heard of before.
Samurai Sudoku
Samurai Sudoku is also known as Gattai-5 Sudoku. It consists of five overlapping 9×9 grids, each with its solution. Five separate solutions are required to solve a Samurai Sudoku puzzle. The goal is to fill in each cell in every grid so that every row, column, and sub-grid contains the numbers 1-9 only once.
Killer Sudoku
Adding a twist to the standard Sudoku puzzle, Killer Sudoku also features cages or groups of boxes with a dotted line surrounding them. The game involves filling in digits for the cages in the puzzle alongside the traditional Sudoku rules. Essentially, the total of each cage should add up to the number in the corner of the cage. The puzzle can be of various sizes, but the standard Killer Sudoku is also 9×9, with unique digits given at the beginning.
Printable Sudoku Puzzles
Printable Sudoku puzzles are the most classic and simplest form of Sudokus. They are fun to solve and relatively easy to print and carry with you. Designed on a 9 x 9 grid, these puzzles come in different difficulty levels, from easy to challenging. Moreover, there are hundreds of free printables to download on the internet that cater to all age groups and have different themes, such as Halloween, Christmas, and more.
Jigsaw Sudoku Puzzle
The Jigsaw Sudoku puzzle game is played on a grid with irregular shapes rather than squares. The game includes an assortment of shapes, such as pentagons, diamonds, and triangles, with the usual objective of following the rule of ensuring that every row, column, and 3×3 grid contains the numbers 1 to 9 without repeating them.
Classic Sudoku
Also known as Standard Sudoku, Classic Sudoku is a 9×9 grid that comes with nine 3×3 boxes. The goal is to fill numbers from 1-9 into the grid without repeating any number in a row, a column, or a box. This puzzle is timeless, well-known, perfect for beginners, and has the least complicated rules.
Hyper Sudoku
Hyper Sudoku, or NRC Sudoku, is a 9×9 puzzle with four central boxes forming another 3×3 grid. It means that additional constraints add to the challenge along with the regular rows and columns. This puzzle is perfect for advanced players looking for a challenging Sudoku variation.
Diagonal Sudoku
This variant of Sudoku adds the extra challenge of requiring that each diagonal line of the grid is devoid of the numbers 1-9, with no repetition. The grids are in the classic 9×9 format, but the checkerboard sections are split between rows and columns centered at the main diagonal.
Irregular Sudoku
Irregular Sudoku, or Jigsaw Sudoku, is another classic 9×9 Sudoku puzzle variation. This variation has unique pieces. In place of the regular grids separated by lines, various shapes piece together to create the 9×9 grid filled with numbers.
X Sudoku (Diagonal Sudoku X)
X Sudoku is like the classic 9×9 Sudoku game but with an added challenge. This variation adds two diagonal lines. The added lines cross at the center of the grid, forming an X shape. The X Sudoku rules are the same as a regular Sudoku game, but the columns and diagonal lines must also have no repetition of numbers 1-9.
Offset Sudoku
Offset Sudoku, also known as Windoku, includes overlapping grids. With this variation, you do not fill an entire grid simultaneously. Instead, you fill four small 3×3 grids and two diagonal lines. It is more complicated than standard Sudoku and provides an extra level of challenge.
Wordoku
Wordoku is a fun twist on Sudoku that allows you to use letters. Rather than numbers, Sudoku puzzles are filled with letters. Sudoku comes from the words “Number” and “Place.”. In Wordoku, you replace the 1-9 of classic Sudoku with nine different letters; it’s a whole new ball game.
Sudoku is a fascinating puzzle game, and as we have seen, there are different types of sudoku puzzles to keep your mind working. No matter the type you choose, Sudoku is an excellent way to stay mentally engaged and active. So, the next time you want to challenge your mind and pass the time, pick up a few sudoku puzzles and have some fun.
