Hyper Sudoku
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How to play Hyper Sudoku
Standard Sudoku rules apply. The four green-shaded regions are extra boxes — each must also contain 1–9. Treat them exactly like standard 3×3 boxes when eliminating candidates.
Full guide →
Four extra shaded 3×3 boxes must each contain 1–9
Easy
Hyper / Windoku Easy
Medium
Hyper / Windoku Medium
Hard
Hyper / Windoku Hard
Expert
Hyper / Windoku Expert
What is Hyper / Windoku?
Hyper Sudoku (also called Windoku) adds four extra shaded 3×3 regions to the standard grid. These regions overlap with the normal boxes and must each contain every digit 1–9, just like the standard boxes. The extra constraint can dramatically reduce candidate counts and often makes puzzles easier than they first appear.
At a Glance
| Constraint type | Extra Regions |
| Typical givens | 26–32 |
| Difficulty rating | ★★★☆☆ 3/5 |
| Avg. solve time — Easy | 6 min |
| Avg. solve time — Medium | 15 min |
| Avg. solve time — Hard | 30 min |
| Avg. solve time — Expert | 55 min |
How to Solve Hyper / Windoku
| Technique | What it does | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Region Overlap Analysis | Each Hyper region overlaps with two standard 3×3 boxes. Any digit placed in the standard box cells within a Hyper region also constrains the full Hyper region. | Beginner |
| Extended Naked Singles | With 13 regions total (9 standard boxes + 4 Hyper), naked singles appear far more often than in classic Sudoku. | Beginner |
| Pointing Pairs (Hyper) | If a digit in a Hyper region is locked to one row or column of that region, eliminate it from the rest of that row or column. | Intermediate |
| Hyper–Box Interaction | A digit placed in a standard box cell that falls inside a Hyper region removes that digit from the entire Hyper region. | Intermediate |
| X-Wing across Hyper | Hyper regions can serve as a fifth unit type in advanced X-Wing and Swordfish patterns. | Advanced |
Average Solve Times
Easy
6 min
Medium
15 min
Hard
30 min
Expert
55 min
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Hyper Sudoku?
Hyper Sudoku (also called Windoku or Hyper-Sudoku) adds four shaded 3×3 regions to the standard 9×9 grid. Each shaded region, like a standard box, must contain the digits 1–9 exactly once. This gives a total of 13 uniqueness groups: 9 rows, 9 columns, 9 standard boxes, and 4 hyper regions — though many cells overlap between groups.
Where are the four hyper regions?
The four hyper regions are positioned symmetrically, offset from the standard boxes. They occupy the 3×3 areas starting at rows 2–4/columns 2–4, rows 2–4/columns 6–8, rows 6–8/columns 2–4, and rows 6–8/columns 6–8. Each hyper region overlaps with four standard boxes, creating a dense web of mutual constraints.
How do the hyper regions help solving?
Any cell inside a hyper region carries five constraints simultaneously: its row, column, standard box, and the hyper region. This extra constraint eliminates candidates faster than standard Sudoku. After every digit placement inside a hyper region, scan all five groups for new eliminations.
Is Hyper Sudoku harder than regular Sudoku?
Easy Hyper Sudoku is often easier than equivalent classic Sudoku because the extra constraints resolve the grid more quickly. Hard and expert Hyper puzzles are comparable in difficulty to their classic equivalents — the additional constraints help but also create complex multi-group interactions that require careful tracking.
What is the best first move in Hyper Sudoku?
Focus on cells inside hyper regions, especially those at the intersections of a hyper region and a standard box. These carry the most constraints and are the most likely to resolve immediately. Always scan all four hyper regions after every placement.
How long does Hyper Sudoku take to solve?
Easy puzzles take 5–12 minutes — often faster than classic Sudoku of equivalent difficulty. Medium puzzles run 12–25 minutes. Hard and expert puzzles take 25–60 minutes. The extra regions speed up early solving but hard puzzles compensate with fewer given digits.