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Do you want to play games like Sudoku? Sudoku is one of the most popular logic-based number puzzles played all around the world. It’s simple yet challenging gameplay has kept puzzle fans engaged for decades. However, if you're looking to mix things up from the standard 9x9 grid, there are plenty of other mind-bending number and logic games that can keep your brain just as active as Sudoku.
In this post, we'll explore 10 top games similar to Sudoku that will challenge and entertain you. Whether you want more variety in your puzzle solving or looking to enhance on your Sudoku skills, games like Kakuro, Nonograms, Slitherlink and more will give your mind a great workout. Each game uses different strategies from Sudoku to solve, ensuring your problem-solving muscles stay flexed. So if you ever get tired of the same old Sudoku, check out these exciting alternatives to keep your mind sharp!
The game offers you a healthy dose of challenge which is also healthy for your brain. Overall the game is hard and playing puzzle games like Sudoku is not as easy as drinking a cup of tea. Of course, if you play modern online Sudoku, there are several difficulty levels which you can choose according to your capability. The core benefit of playing Sudoku is that it will increase your brain functions and improve cognitive skills.
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Puzzle games like sudoku are brainstorming games that help improve your brain's functions like logical thinking, boost thinking capabilities, and fast decision-making abilities.
These games offer another level of entertainment with puzzles that are immersive and challenging in nature.
Here is a list of Sudoku like puzzle games that you should try if you want to sharpen your mind.
The Kakuro puzzle is similar to other crossword puzzles but instead of letters, this contains numbers. To play Kakuro, you need to fill the numbers in a grid of squares. However, there are certain rules that you need to be aware of.
The game contains 1 - 9 numbers which you can use but there is a twist, you cannot use the same number again within a "run" of squares. A run is a series of empty squares that are grouped under a clue, which provides the total sum of those squares.
For example, if there is a run of 3 empty squares under a clue of 7, you would fill those 3 squares with some combination of the numbers 1-9 that add up to 7, like 1 + 3 + 3, without reusing any of those numbers. The numbers can be placed horizontally or vertically within a run, it depends on how you use them.
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The puzzles get progressively more difficult as the runs get longer and the grid gets more filled in. It takes logic, reasoning, and process of elimination skills to deduce the correct combinations. Knowing common sums that only have one possible combination, called "kakuro blocks", can help speed up the solving process. The goal is to fill in the entire grid correctly according to the clues.
Nonograms is a logic based puzzle game wildly popular all around the world. The game is oriented in Japan and also known as Hanji, paint by numbers, picross, griddlers, and pic-a-pix. If you love solving puzzles, then you will definitely like Nonograms.
The challenging nature of this game brings out the fun and entertainment, making it one of the best alternatives to Sudoku, where game gives you visual hints instead of numbers or letters. The game mechanics are slightly unique from other puzzle games like Sudoku. Here, you have black and x marks, which you use to fill all the grid of squares.
So, each row of grids is listed as the length of the runs of black squares on that row. Similarly, above each column is listed to the length of the runs of black squares in that column. You need to fill out all the black squares and mark x in the remaining empty squares.
If you play the online version of Nonograms, you can adjust the difficulty level per your needs.
Tic Tac Toe is an amazing and popular alternative to Sudoku, played between 2 players. The gameplay of this is completely simple yet brainstorming, as in you use Os and Xs instead of numbers. The game contains 3x3 squares in which the objective is that one player will choose Xs and another player will choose Os.
For example, if the first player chooses Xs, then the opponent will automatically assign Os. One player will mark Xs anywhere on that square box, and the same goes for the opponent. Both players will use their mark turn by turn, and to win, the player will have to tick horizontally, vertically, and diagonally. If any player manages to tick the boxes according to the rules (horizontally, vertically, and diagonally) wins the game.
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As the name suggests, it is one of the Sudoku like puzzle games that is a perfect mix of fun, challenging, and entertaining. The puzzle board features rows and boxes of 3x3 squares populated by the single-digit numbers 1 through 9. Within this numerical arrangement, dotted-line enclosures form cages that can only contain the digits without repetition.
Totaling the digits locked within these dotted confines will yield a sum matching the designated clue. To crack the code, eliminate any numbers duplicated in a row, column, or box, leaving one and only one digit per space.
It is a brain-challenging game like Sudoku, which is played with the objective of filling the empty boxes with numbers. Additionally, the numbers should be in sequence from 1 to 81.
Also, all the numbers must follow a horizontal or vertical path (not diagonally). To win, all empty boxes must be filled with a sequence of consecutive numbers. It is the most engaging and interactive alternative to Sudoku and it can improve your logical thinking.
If you are looking for another brain-challenging game with a little bit of a mixture of fun and entertainment, then 2048 has got you covered. The game objective is too simple as you only need to move tiles and merge with another. So, your objective is to merge the tiles until you get 2048, however, each tile is assigned certain numbers.
Each tile value is 2, which means every time you shift or move tiles, another tile shows up. It is also crucial to know that only the same tile value can be merged together.
Amongst all other number games like Sudoku, 2028 stands as one of the most intuitive and engaging games that challenge people’s thinking and logical ability.
This is one of the best and most exciting block puzzle games like Sudoku but with different game mechanics and rules. SudoCube seems like a really fun puzzle game. Basically, you're given different-shaped blocks that you have to slide around a board to fit them all in. It's kind of like a 3D version of Tetris!
The blocks come in lots of colors and sizes, so you have to really think strategically about how to stack them up. You can only move them horizontally or vertically, which makes it tricky. But it feels so satisfying when you clear a whole row or column of blocks at once!
As you progress to higher levels, the blocks get huge. Like sometimes, they take up a whole section of the board - it gets super challenging. And slowly, the game will throw weird L-shapes or triangles that you have to really puzzle it out.
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The goal is obviously to clear the whole board before time runs out. But sometimes, no matter how much you slide things around, there's just no way to fit that last piece. That's when you know it's game over!
Don’t judge this game by its name, it is kind of cute, but the gameplay is not. This is one of the best single-player online video games like Sudoku puzzle. Instead of numbers, this game includes names of famous celebrities, places, brands, and other things. In this type of game, you need to find hidden letters of words.
The game gives you seven little words as a clue to solve the puzzle. You need to build 7 words with given clues in the boxes. You need to choose the right letters that go with little words. For example, if your clue is “marlin with a big dorsal fin,” then you choose “SAI”, “ISH”, “LF”, which together they create a new word “sailfish”.
Wordoku is the best alternative to Sudoku puzzle games, in which players have to fill out the blank space with the letters given by the game.
So the game contains a 9x9 grid square, the objective is to place the letters in the grid so that each row, column, and subgrids of 3x3 contains each letter once. So, players need to pick one letter and fill in each 3x3 subgrids. But there is caution; you need to place each letter in the same row or column as the first letter.
For example, if you use the "F" letter in any 3x3 subgrids row or column, then you can't place another "F" in the same row or column. So the challenge is you need to add each given letter to the boxes' row and column. Of course, there is a timer the more time you will take, the fewer points you will earn.
If you are searching for a game like Sudoku, then Slitherlink has got you all covered with a perfect mix of puzzles and fun. Slitherlink, also known as “puzzle loop”, is a great alternative to games like Sudoku, fully packed with fun and healthy doses of challenges.
It is a logic-based puzzle game with simple rules and challenging solutions. In this game, players draw lines between the dots to connect a single loop without crossings and branches. The numbers mentioned in the game indicate how many lines you need to surround it.
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Be aware the game is not only fun and entertaining but also filled with challenging solutions.
Apart from mentioned puzzle games like Sudoku, there are more. Here is the list of games similar to Sudoku:
1. KenKen (or Calcudoku)2. Jigsaw Sudoku (also known as Picross)3. Hidato4. Hashiwokakero (Bridges)
By reading this post, you might have got your answer to what are the best games like Sudoku to keep your mind sharp. The games we have mentioned in our blog are not only just popular but have also proven themselves in all aspects of entertainment level. The gaming industry is highly profitable for you if you choose to invest in developing games like Sudoku. As the best game development company, we are proficient in creating puzzle games similar to Sudoku. We use modern technologies that allow us to make games cost-efficiently and support multiple platforms as well. We offer you:
● On time delivery● Customization solutions● Feature packed solutions● Best game development professionals● Effective testing and marketing strategies
The development of Sudoku like puzzle games can cost you around $5,000 to $20,000 with basic features and functionalities. However, the cost can go up to $30,000 depending on the project requirements, timeline, the number of developers working on it, and the technology used. If you want to develop puzzle games exactly like Sudoku then we can help you.
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What are other word-based puzzles similar to Sudoku?
Apart from the games mentioned above, crosswords and word search puzzles are among the best word-based puzzle games, similar to Sudoku.
Why should I play games like Sudoku?
Playing games like Sudoku is beneficial in many ways, as it can enhance your problem-solving skills, improve your concentration level, and keep your mind sharp. They are best for entertainment and mental exercise.
How long does it take to develop games like Sudoku?
Developing a puzzle game like Sudoku can take around 3 to 4 months.
DC Kumawat is the CEO of Orion InfoSolutions, a leading provider of IT solutions to businesses of all sizes. He has over 14+ years of experience in the IT industry. He is a passionate advocate for the use of technology to improve business performance.