Logic Puzzle Explainers
Sudoku belongs to a whole world of pencil-and-paper logic puzzles, many from the Japanese publisher Nikoli. These explainers introduce one puzzle at a time, from Kakuro, Nonograms and Slitherlink to lesser-known gems like Nurikabe, Masyu, Shakashaka and Yin-Yang. Each piece gives the rules, a small worked example, beginner tactics, and how the puzzle compares to Sudoku.
If you love the deduction in Sudoku, you will find plenty to enjoy here. They all reward the same patient, no-guessing mindset, just applied to loops, regions, shading or numbers instead of a 9 by 9 grid.
52 articles in this collection
What Is Statue Park? Rules of the Shape-Placing Puzzle
What is Statue Park? Learn to place a set of shapes that never touch, keep the empty space connected, and read black and white clue cells with ease.
What Is Yin Yang Puzzle? Rules, Example, and Tactics
What is Yin Yang puzzle? Shade every cell one of two colors so each color stays connected with no full 2x2 block. Rules, example, and tactics.
What Is Kuromasu? Rules, Shading, and Beginner Tactics
What is Kuromasu? Learn the visible-count rules, shading logic, a worked example, and beginner tactics for this elegant Japanese grid puzzle.
Japanese Logic Puzzles: A Brief Guide to the Nikoli Family
A brief guide to Japanese logic puzzles: meet Sudoku and its Nikoli cousins Kakuro, Nurikabe and Slitherlink, and what makes each one satisfying.
What Is Hitori? Rules and Beginner Strategy
What is Hitori? Shade duplicate numbers so no row or column repeats, while keeping the grid connected. Learn the rules and beginner strategy.
What Is Spiral Galaxies? The Symmetry Puzzle Explained
What is Spiral Galaxies? Learn to split the grid into regions with 180 degree symmetry around each dot, and pick up beginner solving tips for new solvers.
What Is an Aquarium Puzzle? Rules and Tactics
What is an aquarium puzzle? Fill tank regions with water that settles to a level while row and column clues guide you. Learn the rules and tactics.
What Is Takuzu? Binary Puzzle Rules and Beginner Tactics
What is Takuzu? Learn the binary 0s and 1s rules, a worked example, and beginner tactics for this balanced Binairo-style logic puzzle Sudoku fans love.
What Is Shikaku? Rules and Beginner Strategy
What is Shikaku? Split the grid into rectangles so each holds one number equal to its area. Learn the rules and simple beginner strategy here.
What Is Nurikabe? Rules and Beginner Strategy Explained
What is Nurikabe? Learn the rules of the islands and walls logic puzzle and simple beginner strategy to build correct regions, step by step.
What Is Ripple Effect? Rules and Simple Solving Tips
What is Ripple Effect? Learn to fill each region 1 to n, keep equal numbers spaced apart, and pick up easy beginner solving tactics for your first grid.
What Is Shakashaka? Rules, Example, and Tactics
What is Shakashaka? Place half-square triangles so the leftover white areas all form clean rectangles. Learn the rules, an example, and tactics.
What Is Suguru? Rules, No-Touch Numbers, and Tactics
What is Suguru? Learn the cage rules, no-touch numbers, a worked example, and beginner tactics for this compact Tectonic-style logic puzzle.
What Is Hashiwokakero? Rules and Beginner Strategy
What is Hashiwokakero? Connect numbered islands with bridges until every island is linked in one network. Learn the rules and beginner strategy.
What Is KenKen? Rules and Beginner Strategy Explained
What is KenKen? Learn the rules of the arithmetic cage puzzle and clear beginner strategy that blends Sudoku placement with simple math, step by step.
What Is Fillomino? Rules, Regions, and Beginner Tactics
What is Fillomino? Learn the region-size rules, a worked example, and beginner tactics for this satisfying grid-dividing logic puzzle Sudoku fans enjoy.
What Is Choco Banana? Rectangles, Blobs, and Rules
What is Choco Banana? Learn when shaded groups must be rectangles, when they must be blobs, and pick up simple beginner solving tips for new players.
What Is Numberlink? Rules, Example, and Tactics
What is Numberlink? Connect each pair of matching numbers with non-crossing paths that fill the whole grid. Learn the rules, an example, and tactics.
What Is Star Battle? Rules and Beginner Strategy
What is Star Battle? Place stars so each row, column and region holds the same count, with no two touching. Learn the rules and beginner strategy.
What Is Akari? Light Up Rules, Tactics, and a Worked Example
What is Akari? Learn the Light Up rules, bulb placement, a worked example, and beginner tactics for this bright and clever logic puzzle you can master.
What Is Hidato? Rules and Beginner Strategy Explained
What is Hidato? Learn the rules of the consecutive number path puzzle and simple beginner strategy to connect 1 to the end without gaps, step by step.
What Is Double Choco? Rules of the Twin-Block Puzzle
What is Double Choco? Learn to split the grid into twin blocks of matching gray and white shapes, read the number clues, and solve step by step.
What Is a Skyscrapers Puzzle? Rules and Tactics
What is a skyscrapers puzzle? Fill a height grid so edge clues count the buildings you can see. Learn rules, an example, and beginner tactics.
What Is Masyu? Rules and Beginner Strategy for the Pearl Loop
What is Masyu? It is a single loop puzzle where white and black pearls tell your line to go straight or turn. Learn the rules and beginner tips.
What Is Calcudoku? Rules, Cages, and Beginner Tactics
What is Calcudoku? Learn the Latin-square rules, arithmetic cages, a worked example, and beginner tactics for this KenKen-style number puzzle.
What Is Futoshiki? Rules and Beginner Strategy Guide
What is Futoshiki? Learn the rules, how the inequality signs work, and easy beginner strategy for this Latin square logic puzzle, explained simply.
What Is Easy as ABC? Rules, Example, and Tactics
What is Easy as ABC? Place letters so each edge clue shows the first letter seen from that side. Rules, an example, and simple solving tactics.
What Is Slitherlink? Rules and Beginner Strategy
What is Slitherlink? It is a loop puzzle where numbers between dots guide one unbroken loop. Learn the rules and simple beginner strategy here.
What Is Norinori? The Domino Shading Puzzle Explained
What is Norinori? Learn to shade two cells per region, form dominoes that touch just once, and pick up easy beginner solving tactics for your first try.
What Is Heyawake? Rules, Rooms, and Beginner Tactics
What is Heyawake? Learn the room clues and shading rules, a worked example, and beginner tactics for this connected-wall logic puzzle Sudoku fans love.
What Is Str8ts? Rules and Beginner Strategy Explained
What is Str8ts? Learn the rules, the compartments of consecutive numbers, and simple beginner strategy for this clever Sudoku cousin, step by step.
What Is Tents and Trees? Rules, Example, and Tactics
What is Tents and Trees? Place one tent beside every tree using row and column counts. Learn the rules, a clear example, and beginner tactics.
What Is Country Road? Rules of the Region Loop Puzzle
What is Country Road? Learn to draw one loop through every region, read the number clues, hug the borders, and solve your first puzzle grid with ease.
What Is Tapa? Rules, Clues, and Beginner Tactics Explained
What is Tapa? Learn the wall-building rules, run-length clues, a worked example, and beginner tactics for this addictive shading logic puzzle.
What Is Dominosa? Rules, Example, and Solving Tactics
What is Dominosa? Split a number grid into a full set of dominoes, using each pairing once. Learn the rules, a worked example, and beginner tactics.
What Is a Cave Puzzle? Rules and Solving Tips
What is a Cave puzzle? Learn how to shade walls, keep the cave connected, count cells you can see, and pick up beginner solving tactics for new solvers.
Tredoku Explained: How to Read and Solve 3D Isometric Sudoku
Tredoku is a 3D isometric Sudoku spread across cube faces. Learn to read the angled grid, the rules it keeps, and tactics to stay oriented while solving.
What Is Yajilin? Rules, a Worked Example, and Beginner Tactics
What is Yajilin? Learn the loop and shading rules, a worked example, and simple tactics for this clever grid puzzle that Sudoku solvers enjoy.
What Is Slant? Rules, a Worked Example, and Tactics
What is Slant? A logic puzzle where you draw one diagonal in every cell so corner clues match and no loops form. Rules, an example, and tactics.
What Is Castle Wall? A Clear Guide to the Loop Puzzle
What is Castle Wall? Learn how to draw one loop, read inside and outside clues, count arrow segments, and pick up simple solving tactics for new players.
What Does Sudoku Mean? The Simple Story Behind the Name
Curious what does Sudoku mean? Learn the simple Japanese roots of the name, where the puzzle came from, and why single unrepeated numbers define it.
Sujiken Sudoku Explained: Rules and Strategy for the Triangle Grid
Sujiken sudoku is a triangular puzzle on a right triangle grid. Learn the rules, how the shrinking lines work, and simple strategy to start solving today.
What Is Kakurasu? Rules, Tactics, and a Worked Example
What is Kakurasu? Learn the weighted-sum rules, a clear worked example, and beginner tactics for this logic puzzle where numbers guide your grid.
What Is LITS? Rules, Example, and Beginner Tactics
What is LITS? A shading logic puzzle where you fit one L, I, T, or S tetromino into every region. Learn the rules, an example, and simple tactics.
What Is Nanro? Rules, Example, and Beginner Tactics
What is Nanro? Learn the rules of this label-count logic puzzle, see a worked example, and pick up beginner tactics to solve your first grid.
What Is a Water Sort Puzzle? A Simple Explanation
A water sort puzzle asks you to pour mixed colors between containers until each one holds a single color. Here is how the genre works.
What Is a Nonogram? Picture Puzzles Explained
What is a nonogram? These picture puzzles use number clues along the edges to reveal a hidden image. Learn the rules and how to start solving them.
What Is a Logic Grid Puzzle?
A logic grid puzzle is the classic who-owns-the-zebra brain teaser solved with a grid of clues. Learn how these deduction puzzles work and how to start.
What Is a Word Search, and How to Get Faster
Wondering what is a word search and how to get faster? Learn how the grids work plus letter-first scanning habits that make finding words easy.
What Is Minesweeper, and How to Play It Well
What is Minesweeper? It is pure deduction under a grid of numbers. Learn the rules and the number-reading logic that clears it without relying on luck.
What Is Kakuro, and How Do You Play It
What is Kakuro? It is a crossword built from sums instead of words. Learn the rules and the magic-block tricks that crack a Kakuro grid wide open.
What Is a BUG in Sudoku
A BUG in Sudoku, the Bivalue Universal Grave, is a uniqueness trick. When the board is nearly all pairs, one odd cell is forced. Learn to spot it.