sudoku-style puzzles

If you enjoy sudoku, you’ll recognise the appeal of these puzzles: a grid, a set of constraints, and the satisfaction of filling in every square through logic alone. The nerdle family covers classic Sudoku alongside three sudoku-inspired variants that add arithmetic into the mix – corner sums, calcudoku-style cages, or row and column totals on a smaller 3×3 grid.

More about each game

Sudoku – the classic 9×9 puzzle. Fill the grid so every row, column and 3×3 box contains the digits 1–9. Three difficulty levels every day plus an unlimited library of harder puzzles.

Corner Sudoku – standard Sudoku rules plus a corner-sum constraint: the four corner cells of every 3×3 box must add up to the same revealed number Σ. The extra rule gives you a different kind of deduction to chain alongside the usual row/column/box logic.

Calc Sudoku – a calcudoku / KenKen-style 6×6 grid. Cells are grouped into “cages”, each marked with a target value and an operator (+, −, ×, ÷). The digits in each cage must combine via the operator to make the target. Row and column uniqueness still applies.

Maffdoku – the original. Fill a 3×3 grid with digits 1–9 (each used once). The clues around the outside tell you the sum (Σ) or product (Π) of each row and column. Three difficulty levels:

• Level 1 – easier, with more clues provided.
• Level 2 – medium, with different clue patterns.
• Level 3 – hard, with fewer clues and more deduction required.

Cross nerdle – a math crossword that shares the same “fill the grid with logic” feel. Not technically a sudoku, but if you like the satisfaction of completing a grid through logical deduction you’ll feel at home here too.