The History of Sudoku

Sudoku may feel like a product of the digital age, but its roots stretch much further back. The earliest foundations of the game come from 18th-century Switzerland, where mathematician Leonhard Euler developed a concept known as “Latin Squares.” These were simple grids where each symbol appeared only once in every row and column, without any emphasis on boxes like we see in modern Sudoku.

In the late 1970s, an American puzzle creator named Howard Garns took this idea further. He added the box rule—requiring each 3×3 subgrid to also contain unique numbers—and called it “Number Place.” His version was published in Dell puzzle magazines and quietly gained a small fan base.

But it was Japan that truly brought the game to life. In the 1980s, the Japanese puzzle publisher Nikoli discovered “Number Place” and gave it a shorter name: “Sudoku,” meaning “the digits must be single.” With the help of computer-generated puzzles and growing public interest, Sudoku became a sensation in Japan throughout the ’80s and ’90s.

Then came the worldwide boom. In 2004, a New Zealander named Wayne Gould developed a program to automatically generate Sudoku puzzles. He pitched them to major newspapers, and soon Sudoku grids started appearing in The Times of London, The New York Post, and dozens of other publications. Within a year, Sudoku became a global craze—and it’s never really left.

What Sudoku Is All About

Sudoku is a logic-based puzzle game that challenges players to fill a 9×9 grid using the digits 1 through 9. It’s not about math or arithmetic—there’s no addition or multiplication involved. Instead, the game is about finding patterns, spotting opportunities, and applying deductive reasoning.

Each puzzle starts with a few pre-filled numbers, and the goal is to complete the entire grid. Every row, every column, and every 3×3 subgrid must include all the digits from 1 to 9, with no repeats. That’s it. Simple to learn, surprisingly tricky to master.

What makes Sudoku so addictive is the blend of simplicity and depth. Some puzzles can be solved quickly with basic logic, while others require advanced strategies, such as “X-Wing,” “Swordfish,” or “Naked Pairs.” It’s a puzzle that can grow with you—the more you play, the sharper your thinking becomes.

Sudoku has also proven to be more than just a game. Studies have linked it to improved memory, better concentration, and even stress relief. Whether you’re solving a quick puzzle on your phone during lunch or working through a printed book on a quiet evening, Sudoku is both relaxing and rewarding.

The Rules of Sudoku

• Use the digits 1 through 9

• Each row must contain each digit exactly once

• Each column must contain each digit exactly once

• Each of the nine 3×3 boxes (subgrids) must contain each digit exactly once

• You cannot change or move the numbers that are already given

• There is only one correct solution for each puzzle

• Logic is key—random guessing is not required and often leads to mistakes

• The difficulty of a puzzle depends on the number and placement of starting clues, not on how many numbers are missing

Once you understand these rules, you’re ready to play. Begin with the easy clues, scan the grid, and look for numbers that can only fit in one possible spot. As the grid fills up, more advanced techniques come into play. You’ll learn to eliminate possibilities, track candidates, and make strategic decisions that lead to the full solution.

Whether you're a casual solver or a puzzle pro, Sudoku offers endless replay value. No two puzzles are the same, and the sense of satisfaction when finishing a tough grid never gets old. From newspapers and apps to tournaments and online communities, Sudoku remains one of the most beloved logic games in the world.