How to Play Sudoku: Simple Rules & Guide
Sudoku is one of the world's most popular logic games. You do not need any math skills to play—just straightforward deductive logic. Here is everything you need to know to solve your first puzzle.
The 9×9 Grid
A standard Sudoku board consists of an 81-cell grid divided into 9 rows, 9 columns, and nine 3×3 square blocks.
When you start a puzzle, several numbers (called "clues" or "givens") are already placed on the board. The more clues provided, the easier the puzzle generally is. Your mission is to fill in all remaining empty cells.
The Three Golden Rules
Sudoku has only three simple rules. Every valid puzzle must satisfy all three at the same time:
Using Pencil Notes
As puzzles get harder, you won't always be able to place a number immediately. This is where Pencil Notes come in.
In Sunset Sudoku, toggling the Notes button lets you write small candidate numbers inside any cell. For example, if a cell could be either a 3 or an 8, jot down both.
Best of all, you don't have to manually erase outdated notes: when you place a number anywhere on the board, Sunset Sudoku automatically clears that candidate from all peers in the same row, column, and 3×3 block for free!
3 Essential Tips for Beginners
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1. Start Where the Board Is Crowded
Scan for rows, columns, or 3×3 blocks that already have 6, 7, or 8 numbers filled. With only 1 or 2 empty spots remaining, finding the missing digits is much easier.
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2. Cross-Hatch Numbers
Pick one number (for example, 5) and follow where 5 already appears across adjacent rows and columns. This helps you narrow down exactly where 5 has to go in neighboring 3×3 blocks.
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3. Never Guess
Every properly constructed Sudoku puzzle has a single unique logical solution. If you guess and pick the wrong number, you will create a contradiction many moves later. Every number can be proven through logic.