Articles
Stories about puzzles, the people who made them and why we love them, plus step-by-step solving guides. New articles every week.
Puzzle Stories
Puzzle Stories
The Birth of Sudoku: How a Number Puzzle Conquered the World
Where Sudoku came from: Euler’s Latin squares, 19th-century French newspapers, Howard Garns’ Number Place, Nikoli in Japan and the 2004 newspaper boom.
October 30, 2026 · 6 min readPuzzle StoriesWhy Do People Love Sudoku? 7 Reasons We Can’t Stop Playing
Simple rules, a guaranteed answer, no math and a steady stream of small wins. Here is why millions of people solve Sudoku every day, and what research says about puzzles and the brain.
October 30, 2026 · 5 min readSolving Guides
Guide · Beginner
Naked & Hidden Singles
The two moves that solve every easy puzzle.
Guide · IntermediatePointing Pairs & Box/Line
Use one box to clear candidates in a row or column.
Guide · IntermediateNaked Pairs & Triples
Two cells, two candidates: clear the rest of the unit.
Guide · AdvancedHidden Pairs
Spot two numbers that share the same two cells.
Guide · AdvancedX-Wing
A rectangle pattern that unlocks Expert puzzles.