About New Sudoku: 100,000+ Free Puzzles with Timer and Monthly Challenges

Why we built it

Sudoku has been one of the most popular logic puzzles in the world for decades. Millions of people solve it daily — on paper, on phones, in browsers. Yet most online Sudoku games come wrapped in advertising, require app installations, or ask you to create an account before you can play a single game. The experience rarely matches the elegance of the puzzle itself.

We built About New Sudoku because a great puzzle deserves a great experience. No ads, no pop-ups, no mandatory sign-ups. You open the page, pick a difficulty, and start solving. The interface is clean, the controls are intuitive, and your progress is saved automatically. That is it.

Play About New Sudoku →

What makes About New Sudoku different

The goal was not to build another Sudoku clone, but to build the Sudoku experience we wanted for ourselves — fast, clean, and respectful of the player.

Who it is for

• Casual players - a clean, ad-free Sudoku experience for daily relaxation. Pick it up during a break, solve a puzzle, and move on.
• Regular solvers - a deep library that never runs out. Track your times across difficulty levels and watch your skills improve over time.
• Competitive players - monthly challenges provide a level playing field where everyone solves the same puzzle. Compare your time on the leaderboard.
• Beginners learning Sudoku - Easy puzzles with smart hints make it a friendly starting point. The difficulty progression lets you build skills at your own pace.

Understanding Sudoku

Sudoku is a logic puzzle that requires no math — only deduction. The standard grid is 9×9, divided into nine 3×3 boxes. Some cells are pre-filled with numbers; your task is to fill in the rest using numbers 1 through 9, following three rules:

• Each row must contain every number from 1 to 9 exactly once
• Each column must contain every number from 1 to 9 exactly once
• Each 3×3 box must contain every number from 1 to 9 exactly once

These simple rules create surprisingly deep puzzles. Easy grids can be solved with basic elimination — looking at what numbers are already in a row, column, or box and figuring out what is missing. Harder puzzles require more advanced techniques: naked pairs, hidden singles, X-wings, and chains of deduction that span the entire grid.

The beauty of Sudoku is that every puzzle has exactly one solution, and that solution can always be reached through logic alone. There is no guessing required — only careful observation and systematic elimination.

Four difficulty levels

The library spans four difficulty levels, each calibrated to a different solving experience:

Easy (41–51 given numbers)

A gentle introduction. Most cells can be solved with straightforward elimination — checking what numbers are already present in the row, column, and box, and filling in the only possibility. A comfortable solve typically takes 5 to 10 minutes. Ideal for beginners, warm-ups, and relaxing sessions.

Medium (31–40 given numbers)

The step up. Fewer given numbers means more cells where the answer is not immediately obvious. You will need to use pencil marks and think about candidate pairs. Expect 10 to 20 minutes for a comfortable solve. This is where most regular players find their sweet spot.

Hard (26–30 given numbers)

Demands patience and method. Advanced techniques like naked pairs, pointing pairs, and box-line reduction become necessary. A typical solve takes 20 to 40 minutes. Rewarding for experienced solvers who enjoy the challenge of multi-step deduction.

Expert (fewer than 26 given numbers)

The deepest challenge. These puzzles require sophisticated techniques and the ability to hold multiple possibilities in mind simultaneously. Even skilled solvers may spend 30 to 60 minutes. Not for the faint of heart, but immensely satisfying when completed.

Monthly challenges

Every month, a single Hard-level puzzle is selected as the Monthly Challenge. Every player works on the exact same grid, which creates a fair comparison. Your best time appears on the global leaderboard, so you can see how you stack up against other solvers.

The monthly challenge adds a social dimension to what is usually a solitary activity. It gives regulars something to look forward to and provides a concrete benchmark for measuring improvement. Solving the same puzzle as thousands of other people creates a shared experience that goes beyond individual practice.

Smart hints without spoilers

Getting stuck on a puzzle is part of the experience, but staying stuck is not fun. Smart hints provide just enough information to get you moving again without revealing the solution. Instead of filling in a cell for you, the hint points you toward the next logical step — which cell to focus on, or which technique to apply.

This approach preserves the satisfaction of solving the puzzle yourself. A hint is a nudge, not a shortcut. You still do the thinking; the hint just helps you see what you were missing.

Pencil marks and candidate tracking

For Medium and harder puzzles, keeping track of possible candidates in each cell is essential. The pencil mark feature lets you note which numbers could go in a cell without committing to an answer. As you eliminate possibilities through logic, the pencil marks narrow down until only one option remains.

Good pencil mark management is one of the key differences between casual and skilled solvers. It turns the grid from a guessing game into a systematic elimination process. The interface makes it easy to add, remove, and read pencil marks without cluttering the grid.

Play anywhere, anytime

The interface is fully responsive — it works on phones, tablets, and desktops. On mobile, the number pad is sized for comfortable touch input. On desktop, you can use the keyboard for faster entry. The game adapts to your device without losing functionality.

Auto-save means you never lose progress. Start a puzzle on your phone during a commute, close the browser, and finish it on your laptop at home. Your progress is preserved across sessions automatically.

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Practical use cases

Daily mental exercise - a Sudoku puzzle is one of the most effective ways to engage your logical thinking for a few minutes. Many players use it as a daily routine — a focused break between tasks that sharpens attention instead of dulling it.

Commute and travel - a puzzle that works offline (after the initial load) and does not require sound or an internet connection. Perfect for planes, trains, and waiting rooms.

Skill building - the progression from Easy to Expert provides a natural learning curve. Track your times to see concrete improvement. The Monthly Challenge adds motivation to keep pushing your limits.

Friendly competition - share your Monthly Challenge time with friends or colleagues. The same puzzle for everyone means the comparison is fair and the bragging rights are earned.

Screen-time alternative - instead of scrolling through social media during a break, solve a puzzle. It is still screen time, but it is active, focused, and satisfying in a way that passive consumption is not.

Free forever

About New Sudoku is free to play with no restrictions. There are no premium levels, no locked features, and no countdown timers pushing you toward a purchase. The puzzle experience is complete from day one.

FAQ

Do I need an account to play?

No. You can start playing immediately without creating an account. Register for free if you want to save statistics and participate in the leaderboard.

Will I lose my progress if I close the tab?

No. Auto-save preserves your current game. Come back anytime and continue where you left off.

How many puzzles are there?

Over 100,000 puzzles across four difficulty levels. You will not run out.

Can I play on my phone?

Yes. The interface is fully responsive and designed for touch input on mobile devices.

What is the Monthly Challenge?

A single Hard-level puzzle selected each month. Everyone solves the same grid, and the best times appear on the global leaderboard.

Feedback or ideas? Open About New Sudoku and let us know what you think.