What are the different types of Sudoku?

The most common types are classic 9x9 Sudoku, killer Sudoku (with caged sums), jigsaw Sudoku (irregular regions), mini Sudoku (4x4 or 6x6 grids), X-Sudoku (added diagonals), hyper Sudoku (extra inner boxes), and samurai Sudoku (five overlapping grids). All share the core rule of no repeats within a group.

What is killer Sudoku?

Killer Sudoku combines Sudoku with simple addition. The grid is divided into dashed 'cages', and the small number in each cage is the sum its cells must add up to — with no digit repeating inside a cage. You still follow all the normal row, column, and box rules.

What is jigsaw Sudoku?

Jigsaw Sudoku (also called irregular or 'squiggly' Sudoku) replaces the nine 3x3 boxes with nine irregular, interlocking shapes. Rows and columns still need 1–9 once each, and so does every jigsaw region.

What is the easiest type of Sudoku for beginners?

Mini Sudoku on a 4x4 or 6x6 grid is the easiest, which is why it's popular with children and newcomers. After that, classic 9x9 on Easy difficulty is the natural next step before trying any variant.

Is Suko the same as Sudoku?

No. Suko is a separate 3x3 puzzle where you place 1–9 once each so that four circled numbers equal the sums of their surrounding cells, plus colour-group totals. It shares Sudoku's no-repeat spirit but has different rules and a much smaller grid.

Types of Sudoku Explained: Killer, Jigsaw, Mini, X and More

Quick answer: Beyond classic 9x9 Sudoku, the most popular variants are killer (cages with sums), jigsaw (irregular regions), mini (4x4 or 6x6), X-Sudoku (diagonals must also hold 1–9), hyper (extra inner boxes), and samurai (five overlapping grids). They all keep one idea: no number repeats within a defined group.

If you have mastered the classic 9x9 grid, you have probably wondered what the “killer” or “jigsaw” labels on other puzzles mean. Here is a plain-English tour of the family — and one puzzle that is often confused with it.

Classic Sudoku

The original and by far the most common. A 9x9 grid split into nine 3x3 boxes; fill it so every row, column, and box holds 1–9 exactly once. Everything below is a twist on this foundation. You can play classic Sudoku free here in easy, medium, hard, or evil.

Killer Sudoku

Killer Sudoku adds a dash of arithmetic. The grid is carved into dashed-outline cages, each labelled with a target sum. The digits in a cage must add up to that number and never repeat inside the cage — on top of all the usual row, column, and box rules. Because many cells start empty, cage sums become your first foothold. It’s the most popular variant after the classic, and it’s a built-in mode in the Sudoku Aura app. New to it? Read our full Killer Sudoku guide.

Jigsaw Sudoku

Also called irregular or squiggly Sudoku. The nine neat 3x3 boxes are replaced by nine irregular, interlocking shapes. The rules are otherwise identical: 1–9 once per row, per column, and per jigsaw region. The odd shapes break the visual habits you build on classic grids, which makes jigsaw feel surprisingly fresh.

Mini Sudoku (4x4 and 6x6)

Smaller grids for a quicker solve. A 4x4 uses digits 1–4 in four 2x2 boxes; a 6x6 uses 1–6 in 2x3 boxes. With less to track, mini Sudoku is the friendliest entry point for kids and newcomers — and a fast coffee-break option for everyone else. You can print free 4x4 kids puzzles and 6x6 puzzles, or play them in the Sudoku Aura app. See our Sudoku for Kids guide for how to get children started.

X-Sudoku (Diagonal Sudoku)

A classic 9x9 grid with one extra rule: each of the two main diagonals must also contain 1–9 exactly once. Those diagonals give you extra constraints — and extra deductions — so an X-Sudoku often solves along paths a plain grid never would.

Hyper Sudoku (Windoku)

Adds four extra shaded 3x3 boxes floating inside the grid, each of which must also hold 1–9 once. The overlapping regions create dense, satisfying chains of logic and a noticeably harder solve.

Samurai Sudoku

Five 9x9 grids overlapping in a plus-sign shape, sharing corner boxes. You solve all five at once, using the shared boxes to carry deductions between them. It’s a long, absorbing sit-down puzzle rather than a quick break.

A puzzle that isn’t Sudoku: Suko

Suko often shows up next to Sudoku in newspapers, so it’s worth clearing up. Suko is a tiny 3x3 puzzle: place 1–9 once each so that four circled numbers equal the sums of the four cells around them, while colour-group totals match given targets. It borrows Sudoku’s “each digit once” spirit but is a different puzzle with its own rules.

Which should you try?

New to number puzzles? Start with mini or classic easy.
Want a twist without new math? Try jigsaw or X-Sudoku.
Enjoy a bit of arithmetic? Killer is the most rewarding step.
Craving a marathon? Samurai will keep you busy for an hour.

Whichever branch you explore, they all reward the same calm, logical focus. Ready to warm up on the original? Play a free classic puzzle or try today’s daily Sudoku.