One number at a time.
Sudoku is a game of logic, not maths. You never need to add, subtract or guess. Every PuzzleTempo puzzle is checked to have exactly one solution.
The three simple rules
- Every row contains the numbers 1–9, once each.
- Every column contains the numbers 1–9, once each.
- Every 3 × 3 box contains the numbers 1–9, once each.
Start with a row, column or box that already has plenty of clues. Which number is missing? Check its crossing row and column before filling it in.
Make yourself comfortable
Select an empty cell, then tap a number. On a keyboard, use the arrow keys to move and 1–9 to enter a number. Press N or tap Notes to toggle pencil marks. Tap the same note again to remove it. Correct entries are locked so they cannot accidentally be erased.
A hint fills only your selected empty cell. Hints are available without ads in this web version and deduct 150 points each. A wrong answer stays out of your grid and counts as a mistake.
A little challenge, at your tempo
Easy and Medium games start with 3 chances, Hard with 2 and Expert with 1. Run out? Continue practising with 3 extra chances, or revisit your game in the puzzle journal. Your accumulated mistakes and hint penalties remain.
Every point, explained
Your score is never less than zero. Correct manual entries earn 10 points each. Each mistake costs 100 points; each hint costs 150. Completing the puzzle adds these bonuses:
| Difficulty | Completion | Speed target |
|---|---|---|
| Easy | 1,000 points | 10 minutes |
| Medium | 1,500 points | 15 minutes |
| Hard | 2,000 points | 20 minutes |
| Expert | 3,000 points | 30 minutes |
Finish without mistakes or hints for a 500-point perfect-game bonus. The speed bonus starts at 300 and decreases linearly to zero at the target time. It is rounded to the nearest whole point. Paused time does not count. These are personal scores, with no public leaderboard.
Your daily ritual
The daily challenge changes at midnight UTC. Solve challenges on consecutive UTC dates to build your streak. Returning to today’s challenge reopens your existing attempt rather than creating a duplicate.
Save a little space for yourself
Your most recent 100 games are kept in this browser. Your statistics and daily streak are calculated from that history. They do not sync across devices or browsers. Clearing site data removes your games. Pause before leaving; moves save immediately and the timer saves every five seconds.
Ready for your first little win? Let’s play Sudoku →