Easy Little Killer Sudoku

Clues outside the grid give diagonal sums — digits may repeat along the arrow. Combine diagonal enumeration with classic Sudoku logic. Free online.

New to Little Killer Sudoku? Each clue gives the sum of a diagonal — digits may repeat. Start here.

5
4
6
7
4
8
3
7
5
4
2
7
8
2
1
3
4
2
1
8
7
5
3
4
6
2
6
5
7
4
8
1
6
4
5
7
8
2
Diagonal Clues
↘ from (1,1): 47 (9 cells)
↘ from (1,2): 36 (8 cells)
↘ from (1,3): 33 (7 cells)
↘ from (1,4): 28 (6 cells)
↘ from (1,5): 21 (5 cells)
↘ from (1,6): 22 (4 cells)
↘ from (1,7): 12 (3 cells)
↘ from (1,8): 10 (2 cells)
↘ from (2,1): 55 (8 cells)
↘ from (3,1): 34 (7 cells)
↘ from (4,1): 32 (6 cells)
↘ from (5,1): 18 (5 cells)
↘ from (6,1): 16 (4 cells)
↘ from (7,1): 17 (3 cells)
↘ from (8,1): 15 (2 cells)
↙ from (1,2): 15 (2 cells)
↙ from (1,3): 16 (3 cells)
↙ from (1,4): 18 (4 cells)
↙ from (1,5): 16 (5 cells)
↙ from (1,6): 31 (6 cells)
↙ from (1,7): 40 (7 cells)
↙ from (1,8): 51 (8 cells)
↙ from (1,9): 43 (9 cells)
↙ from (2,9): 37 (8 cells)
↙ from (3,9): 21 (7 cells)
↙ from (4,9): 33 (6 cells)
↙ from (5,9): 29 (5 cells)
↙ from (6,9): 25 (4 cells)
↙ from (7,9): 14 (3 cells)
↙ from (8,9): 4 (2 cells)
Mistakes
0/3
Score
-
Time
00:00
Try Medium Little Killer Sudoku →
Progress0%

What is Little Killer Sudoku?

Difficulty
★★★★☆
4/5
Constraint Type
Outside Clues
Typical Givens
0–6 given digits
Avg. Solve (Easy)
14 min

Solving Techniques for Easy Level

Technique Description Level
Diagonal Enumeration For each clue, enumerate all combinations of N digits (allowing repeats, 1–9) that sum to the clue value. Beginner
Repeating Digits Allowed Unlike Killer cages, Little Killer diagonals can repeat digits as long as standard row/column/box uniqueness is preserved. Beginner

Ready to go deeper? Try Medium Little Killer Sudoku to unlock Intermediate techniques.

Techniques to Master at Easy

  • Notes in Sudoku — Pencil the possible sum splits beside each short diagonal — and remember repeats are legal along a diagonal, so {2,2,5} style splits belong in your notes here.
  • Last Possible Number technique — A one-cell diagonal clue is a given digit in disguise, and two-cell clues of 3, 4, 16, or 17 leave each cell only one or two candidates.

Average Solve Time by Difficulty

Easy
14 min
Medium
28 min
Hard
55 min
Expert
88 min
Want a full walkthrough of rules, strategies, and solving steps? How to Play Little Killer Sudoku →

Related Variants

Killer Sudoku

The cage version of the same idea: sum clues with a no-repeat rule that makes the arithmetic tighter than on diagonals.

Sandwich Sudoku

Also driven entirely by numbers written outside the grid — sums between the 1 and 9 instead of along diagonals.

Skyscraper Sudoku

Another outside-clue variant, replacing diagonal sums with visibility counts read from the grid's edges.

Frequently Asked Questions — Easy Little Killer Sudoku

What is Little Killer Sudoku?
Little Killer Sudoku is a Sudoku variant where clues appear outside the grid along diagonal arrows. Each clue gives the sum of all digits along that diagonal. Standard Sudoku rules still apply — every row, column, and 3×3 box must contain the digits 1–9 exactly once.
How do the diagonal arrows work?
Each arrow points into the grid at a 45-degree angle (↘ or ↙) and shows a number. That number is the sum of every cell the arrow passes through. The arrow starts outside the grid and the clue sits next to it.
Can digits repeat on a Little Killer diagonal?
Yes — unlike Killer Sudoku cages, digits CAN repeat along a Little Killer diagonal. The only uniqueness constraints are the standard ones: each row, column, and 3×3 box must still hold each digit exactly once.
How do I start solving an easy Little Killer Sudoku?
Start with the shortest diagonals — a 1-cell diagonal tells you the digit directly. A 2-cell diagonal with a small or large sum (like 3 or 17) has very few possible combinations. Work outward from these quick wins before tackling longer diagonals.
How is Little Killer Sudoku different from regular Sudoku?
Regular Sudoku gives you pre-filled digits as clues. Little Killer Sudoku gives you almost no digits inside the grid — instead you get outside clues telling you diagonal sums. You have to work backward from those sums to figure out what goes where.

More questions? See the full Little Killer Sudoku guide.