What is Sudoku?

Sudoku is a logic game with numbers. No math skills are required, just reasoning. The objective is to fill a 9x9 grid with the numbers 1 to 9.

The Origins of Sudoku: From Latin Squares to a Worldwide Phenomenon

Leonhard Euler

Sudoku, one of the most popular logic games both online and offline, has surprising roots dating back to the 18th century. Its conceptual predecessor is found in Latin squares, a numerical system devised by Swiss mathematician Leonhard Euler, where the goal was to ensure that numbers did not repeat in rows or columns. This principle was the seed for number-based logic puzzles that, many years later, would become sudoku.

The modern version of Sudoku, as it is played today, was created in 1979 by American Howard Garns, who designed the first puzzle under the name 'Number Place.' Later, in 1984, Japanese editor Maki Kaji popularized it in Nikoli magazine and renamed it 'Sudoku,' an abbreviation of the Japanese phrase “Sūji wa dokushin ni kagiru,” meaning 'numbers only once.'

The Journey of Sudoku Around the World

Howard Garns

Although Sudoku was born in the United States, it achieved global fame from Japan, where it became a national pastime thanks to the ease of publishing and solving these numerical puzzles—ideal for daily commutes and a culture fond of mental challenges. With the rise of digital platforms and the appearance of sites like onlysudokus.com, playing Sudoku online has become increasingly accessible and popular worldwide.

The expansion reached the West in 2004, when The Times of London newspaper began publishing sudoku puzzles, quickly followed by international media. In a short time, online Sudoku became a global craze, securing its spot as a favorite game on both digital platforms and mobile apps.

Where Sudoku is Most Popular and Its Global Impact

Japan remains one of the leading countries in Sudoku enthusiasts and publications, with thousands of specialized magazines sold each month. But today, thanks to specialized websites like onlysudokus.com, you can play sudoku online from anywhere in the world, with a strong presence in Spain, the United States, the UK, Germany, France, and Latin America; millions of players enjoy solving sudokus daily. It is estimated that more than 100 million people play Sudoku regularly worldwide, both on paper and online platforms.

International Sudoku Tournaments and Championships

Sudoku also has official championships. The World Sudoku Championship, held since 2006, brings together the best players from different countries to compete, solving dozens of sudokus under time pressure. Japan, the United States, Poland, and the Czech Republic have produced multiple world champions, and there are both team and individual tournaments, with Canada hosting the most recent event.

Among the standout winners are Japan’s Kota Morinishi, Thomas Snyder from the US, and Poland’s Jan Mrozowski. Spain also has an active presence in these competitions, showing the growing interest in Spanish sudoku and online sudoku play.

Interesting Sudoku Facts and Statistics

Maki Kaji
  • 71% of online games on platforms like onlysudokus.com are won by more experienced players, highlighting Sudoku’s strategic component beyond luck.
  • The average time to solve a difficult Sudoku is about 15 to 18 minutes in online rankings.
  • The world championships gather representatives from more than 20 countries each year, and over 50 boards are typically solved per day during these tournaments.

Join the World of Online Sudoku

On onlysudokus.com, playing Sudoku online is simple, free, and tailored for both beginners and experts. Discover daily sudokus, compete against other players, and improve your personal stats in the best digital community for Sudoku enthusiasts.

Passionate about mental challenges? Try online sudokus now and join the global onlysudokus.com community! Take your game to the next level, participate in virtual tournaments, and be part of the evolution of online sudoku.

Idea cloud: Optimized keywords: sudoku online, play sudoku, free sudoku, sudoku puzzles, printable sudoku, easy sudoku, hard sudoku, play free sudoku online without registration, how to solve hard sudoku step by step, printable sudoku puzzles for kids free, expert level sudoku online with hints, sudoku puzzles for adults in English, printable sudoku variants free, sudoku with timer online to compete, daily free sudoku online in English, best strategies for advanced sudoku, sudoku solution step by step for beginners, origin of sudoku, history of sudoku, who invented sudoku, sudoku evolution, sudoku statistics, world sudoku championship, onlysudokus.com, sudoku in Spanish.

Sudoku game online - Only Sudokus