All Sudoku Variants
Beyond Classic Sudoku and Killer Sudoku, dozens of rule variants exist - Each adding a unique constraint that creates an entirely different solving experience.
Variants by Category
| Category | Live Variants | Difficulty Range | Extra Constraint |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extra Regions | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ – ★★★☆☆ | Additional 3×3 or irregular boxes must contain 1–9 |
| Line Constraints | 8 | ★★★☆☆ – ★★★★☆ | Digits along lines must satisfy sum, order, or set rules |
| Outside Clues | 5 | ★★★★☆ – ★★★★★ | Numbers outside the grid constrain rows and columns |
| Cell Relationships | 6 | ★★★☆☆ – ★★★★☆ | Adjacent pairs constrained by parity, sum, or ratio |
| Anti-Constraints | 4 | ★★★☆☆ | Cells at chess-move distances cannot share a digit |
| Grid Variants | 4 | ★☆☆☆☆ – ★★☆☆☆ | Different grid size or symbol set (4×4, letters A–I) |
| Special Variants | 3 | ★★★★☆ – ★★★★★ | Clone regions, chaos construction, pencilmark-only |
Difficulty Distribution Across Live Variants
Extra Regions
Both main diagonals must also contain 1–9
Play Diagonal Sudoku → Learn MoreFour extra shaded 3×3 boxes must each contain 1–9
Play Hyper / Windoku → Learn MoreFive overlapping 9×9 grids sharing corner boxes
Play Samurai Sudoku → Learn MoreIrregular jigsaw-shaped regions replace the standard 3×3 boxes
Play Jigsaw Sudoku → Learn MoreCombines jigsaw regions with main diagonal constraints
Play Irregular Diagonal Sudoku → Learn MoreLine Constraints
Digits must strictly increase along thermometer shapes
Play Thermo Sudoku → Learn MoreDigits on an arrow must sum to the digit in the circle
Play Arrow Sudoku → Learn MorePurple lines must contain consecutive digits in any order
Play Renban Sudoku → Learn MoreAdjacent digits on the green line must differ by at least 5
Play German Whispers → Learn MoreThe digit sequence along a line reads the same forwards and backwards
Play Palindrome Sudoku → Learn MoreDigits on a line must fall strictly between the two endpoint values
Play Between Lines Sudoku → Learn MoreOutside Clues
Clues outside the grid give the sum of a diagonal
Play Little Killer Sudoku → Learn MoreClues give the sum of digits between the 1 and 9 in each row/column
Play Sandwich Sudoku → Learn MoreOutside clues show how many 'buildings' are visible from that edge
Play Skyscraper Sudoku → Learn MoreDigits outside the grid must appear in the first three cells of that row or column
Play Outside Sudoku → Learn MoreCell Relationships
White dots = consecutive digits; black dots = one digit is double the other
Play Kropki Sudoku → Learn MoreX between cells means they sum to 10; V means they sum to 5
Play XV Sudoku → Learn MoreBars between cells mean those two digits are consecutive
Play Consecutive Sudoku → Learn MoreNo two orthogonally adjacent cells may contain consecutive digits
Play Non-Consecutive Sudoku → Learn MoreInequality signs between cells constrain which is larger
Play Greater Than / Less Than Sudoku → Learn MoreShaded cells must contain odd digits; circles must contain even digits
Play Odd / Even Sudoku → Learn MoreAnti-Constraints
No two cells a king's move apart may contain the same digit
Play Anti-King Sudoku → Learn MoreNo two cells a knight's move apart may contain the same digit
Play Anti-Knight Sudoku → Learn MoreOrthogonally adjacent cells may not contain consecutive digits
Play Anti-Consecutive Sudoku → Learn MoreGrid Variants
4×4 or 6×6 grids — perfect for beginners and children
Play Mini Sudoku → Learn MoreSudoku arranged on the faces of a cube or other 3D layout
Play Cube / 3D Sudoku → Learn MoreUses letters instead of numbers — and often spells a word in one row
Play Alphabet / Word Sudoku → Learn MoreSpecial Variants
Marked regions must contain identical digit arrangements
Play Clone Sudoku → Learn MoreYou must determine the region boundaries as part of solving
Play Chaos Construction → Learn MoreA pencilmark-style variant where clues are given as candidate sets
Play Sukaku → Learn MoreFull Variant Comparison Table
| Variant | Category | Difficulty | Avg. Medium | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classic Sudoku | Standard | ★★☆☆☆ | 12 min | Live |
| Killer Sudoku | Outside Clues | ★★★★☆ | 30 min | Live |
| Diagonal Sudoku | Extra Regions | ★★☆☆☆ | 10 min | Live |
| Hyper / Windoku | Extra Regions | ★★★☆☆ | 15 min | Live |
| Samurai Sudoku | Extra Regions | ★★★★★ | 90 min | Live |
| Jigsaw Sudoku | Extra Regions | ★★★☆☆ | 16 min | Live |
| Irregular Diagonal Sudoku | Extra Regions | ★★★★☆ | 18 min | Live |
| Thermo Sudoku | Line Constraints | ★★★★☆ | 22 min | Live |
| Arrow Sudoku | Line Constraints | ★★★★☆ | 25 min | Live |
| Renban Sudoku | Line Constraints | ★★★★☆ | 22 min | Live |
| German Whispers | Line Constraints | ★★★★☆ | 22 min | Live |
| Palindrome Sudoku | Line Constraints | ★★★☆☆ | 16 min | Live |
| Between Lines Sudoku | Line Constraints | ★★★☆☆ | 18 min | Live |
| Little Killer Sudoku | Outside Clues | ★★★★☆ | 28 min | Live |
| Sandwich Sudoku | Outside Clues | ★★★★☆ | 26 min | Live |
| Skyscraper Sudoku | Outside Clues | ★★★★☆ | 25 min | Live |
| Outside Sudoku | Outside Clues | ★★★☆☆ | 18 min | Live |
| Kropki Sudoku | Cell Relationships | ★★★☆☆ | 18 min | Live |
| XV Sudoku | Cell Relationships | ★★★☆☆ | 18 min | Live |
| Consecutive Sudoku | Cell Relationships | ★★★☆☆ | 16 min | Live |
| Non-Consecutive Sudoku | Cell Relationships | ★★★☆☆ | 13 min | Live |
| Greater Than / Less Than Sudoku | Cell Relationships | ★★★☆☆ | 16 min | Live |
| Odd / Even Sudoku | Cell Relationships | ★★★☆☆ | 14 min | Live |
| Anti-King Sudoku | Anti-Constraints | ★★★☆☆ | 13 min | Live |
| Anti-Knight Sudoku | Anti-Constraints | ★★★☆☆ | 12 min | Live |
| Anti-Consecutive Sudoku | Anti-Constraints | ★★★☆☆ | 13 min | Live |
| Clone Sudoku | Special Variants | ★★★★☆ | 22 min | Live |
| Chaos Construction | Special Variants | ★★★★☆ | 26 min | Live |
| Sukaku | Special Variants | ★★★☆☆ | 18 min | Live |
| Mini Sudoku | Grid Variants | ★☆☆☆☆ | 2 min | Live |
| Cube / 3D Sudoku | Grid Variants | ★★★★☆ | 32 min | Live |
| Alphabet / Word Sudoku | Grid Variants | ★★☆☆☆ | 12 min | Live |