My First Games
The independent studio that built Sudoku.by - Because classic games deserve better digital homes.
Not Actually for Beginners
Despite what the name might suggest, My First Games is not churning out simple games for children. This small but focused studio has built a reputation for taking timeless puzzles and giving them thoughtful, modern digital makeovers - Done properly.
"The name started as a joke. We were all working at big gaming companies making increasingly complicated stuff. We wanted to get back to basics - But do those basics really, really well."
Sudoku With a Side of Personality
If you have played online Sudoku before, you have probably encountered blank grids and clinical interfaces that feel about as exciting as filing taxes. The My First Games team took one look at the competition and decided players deserved better.
"Most Sudoku sites feel like they were designed by robots. We wanted Sudoku.by to feel like it was made by humans who actually play these puzzles themselves."
A Difficulty System That Actually Makes Sense
Unlike competitors who assign difficulty ratings by throwing darts at a board, My First Games built a meticulously calibrated progression grounded in puzzle theory.
| Level | Solving Approach | What Players Say |
|---|---|---|
| Easy | Straightforward elimination | "For once, easy actually means easy" |
| Medium | Hidden singles, basic pairs | "Perfect Sunday morning puzzle" |
| Hard | Naked pairs, pointing pairs | "Satisfying without frustrating" |
| Expert | X-Wing, Swordfish patterns | "Feels like a genius when you crack it" |
| Master | Multi-technique chaining | "Separates casual from dedicated" |
| Extreme | All advanced techniques | "Has a cult following" |
The Secret: Human Testing at Every Level
Ask anyone at My First Games about the key to Sudoku.by's success, and they give the same answer: obsessive testing by real humans.
- Every puzzle is solved by at least three different team members before going live
- Any unintended shortcut or duplicate solution path means the puzzle is discarded
- Each difficulty level is tested by someone at the target skill level, not just developers
- The interface was redesigned after player feedback revealed eye strain from small numbers and low-contrast grids on competing sites
When Players Demanded More
What started as a catalogue addition quickly took on a life of its own. Players began organising unofficial tournaments, sharing screenshots of particularly devious Master layouts, and creating video walkthroughs for Extreme challenges.
"We never expected this level of community engagement. People were creating Discord servers just to discuss our Sudoku puzzles. It was wild."
Rather than resting on their laurels, My First Games leaned into the unexpected success. The platform now features:
- Daily challenges - A fresh puzzle every day, same for all players worldwide
- Weekly tournaments with global leaderboards
- Killer Sudoku - Cage-sum variant for added depth
- Global rankings with anti-cheat scoring
- Techniques hub - 10 solving methods explained step by step
- Printable puzzles for offline play
What's Next
My First Games continues to develop Sudoku.by with new features. On the roadmap: themed puzzle collections, collaborative solving modes, expanded language support, and a controversial "impossible" difficulty level currently causing heated internal debate.
"Some of us think the Extreme level is already pushing the limits of what's enjoyable. But there's definitely a hardcore group of players asking for even tougher challenges."