Sudoku Help - Puzzle Types

Here's a page from the extensive help system for Sudoku Dragon. It is available as a help screen when running the program. To get the full picture Download our Sudoku Dragon and see the screen in its context.

We now offer an alternative product only available for download from Microsoft Store. This shares many features but not all of them. For documentation of the SudokuDragon for Store version see its separate help section.

Sudoku Dragon supports not just the familiar 9x9 puzzle but many variations on this theme. So if you get bored with the standard game try one of the different types of Sudoku for a refreshing challenge.

Standard

The puzzle can be any size from just 2x2 through regular 9x9 to the monster 20x20 grid size.

All rows; columns and regions must have all the numbers once only.

Variations of region size examples of 2 by 3; 2 by 7 and 4 by 5 grids

Stripe

Like the standard puzzle the Striped version can be of any size but a Sudoku Dragon special rule is added as well.

Hidden in one row; column or region are the numbers in ascending or descending sequence. This is called the Sudoku stripe.

This example Striped Sudoku shows the original puzzle and then the solution with the stripe in central region Dd highlighted.

Diagonal

Rather similar to the stripe is the another Sudoku variation. In this case the diagonals of the grid are also 'groups' and must contain all the numbers once only like the rows, columns and regions.

This example Diagonal Sudoku (also called Sudoku-X) shows the original puzzle and then the solution with the diagonals highlighted to show that all the numbers 1-9 are present in both diagonals.

Word

If you get bored with numbers then you can use letters instead, there is no reason why numbers need to be used in a Sudoku puzzle.The letters form a nine letter word. So by solving the puzzle the hidden word (in a row or column) is revealed. If you guess the word from the letters available this can help you solve the puzzle. The Word Sudoku is only available with the 9x9 puzzle size.

This example Word Sudoku shows the original puzzle and then the solution. The hidden word 'Outbreaks' is in column a.

Chinese

As well as English words you can also play puzzles in Chinese. There are two Chinese puzzle options: numbers of phrases; the Chinese number puzzle uses the Chinese character for the numbers 1-9 while the Chinese phrase has a jumbled up phrase hidden in the grid. So as well as playing Sudoku you can learn some Chinese characters at the same time. In order to help you with the characters the Possibility toolbar will include the Pinyin ➚ and English translations in the tooltips.

Symbols

Sudoku can be played with any set of unique symbols, not just numbers or letters. The 'symbol' puzzle type uses a set of abstract symbols for playing the game.

Jigsaw

Sudoku Dragon offers 'Jigsaw' or 'Squiggle' Sudoku. In this case the regions that in the standard Sudoku puzzle are rectangular are allowed to be any interlinked shape - as long as they have the same number of squares. Solving this type of Sudoku requires a few more twists as some of the familiar rules will no longer work. Our Jigsaw puzzles can be of any size.

This example Jigsaw Sudoku shows the original puzzle and then the solution. The regions all are in the form of irregular jigsaw pieces but they all still have nine squares in each of them.

Samurai

A final variation offered by Sudoku Dragon is 'Samurai' Sudoku. The grid contains more than one standard puzzle in an overlapping fashion. The puzzles are linked by the shared squares.