The Cryptic reference guide
Sudoku variants
Cryptic includes 17 sudoku variants. Pick one to read its rule and the Professor's tips.
Every variant, explained
Which sudoku variants can you play?
Every variant keeps the usual row, column and box rules. Each adds its own constraint.
- 01
Classic Sudoku
The founding law, and the only one you need today. Every row, every column and every box holds each digit exactly once.
- 02
Killer Sudoku
Each dotted cage carries a sum. The digits inside must add up to it, and no digit may appear twice within the same cage.
- 03
Thermo Sudoku
Each thermometer runs from its bulb, the circle, to its tip. The digits must rise strictly along it, every step larger than the last.
- 04
Diagonal Sudoku
Both main diagonals, corner to corner, must also hold each digit exactly once, just as a row or a column does.
- 05
Arrow Sudoku
Every arrow has a circle and a path. The digit in the circle must equal the sum of the digits along the path.
- 06
Knight's Move Sudoku
No two identical digits may sit a chess knight's move apart. The knight moves in an L: two squares one way, then one square at a right angle.
- 07
Sandwich Sudoku
A clue outside the grid is a sum.
- 08
German Whisper
On a German Whisper line, any two neighbouring cells must differ by at least 5.
- 09
Renban Line
The digits on a Renban line form a run of consecutive numbers, in any order you like.
- 10
Palindrome Line
A palindrome line reads the same in both directions. The first cell matches the last, the second matches the second from last, and so on inwards.
- 11
Between Lines
The digits on a between line must lie numerically between the two circled endpoints.
- 12
Region Sum Lines
A region sum line is cut into segments wherever it crosses a box boundary, and every segment must add up to the same total.
- 13
Kropki Dots
A white dot between two cells means their digits are consecutive, differing by one.
- 14
XV Pairs
A V between two cells means they sum to 5. An X means they sum to 10.
- 15
King's Move Sudoku
No two identical digits may sit a chess king's move apart.
- 16
Fog of War Sudoku
The grid lies under fog. You see only the given digits and the cells beside them.
- 17
Miracle Sudoku
Three rules at once, and every one is about pairs of cells.
