NYT Sudoku
Reading this guide: Official access details and documented facts refer to NYT Games information. Solving methods and drills are StuckOnWordle recommendations, not official instructions or guaranteed results.
The Times added Sudoku puzzles to its print edition in the mid-2000s as
the global Sudoku craze took off, then folded them into the Games app
alongside the Crossword and Spelling Bee. The New York Times currently
offers Easy, Medium and Hard Sudoku puzzles. Difficulty generally
increases through the three levels, although individual experiences vary
depending on the solving techniques required.
- Launch: mid-2000s in print; later integrated into NYT Games on web and mobile.
- Formats: Easy, Medium and Hard grids with optional timers and mistake limits.
- Features: pencil marks, autofill notes, and “check” tools for newer solvers.
Correction — 22 June 2026: This guide was revised to correct its description of NYT Sudoku's daily difficulty levels.
Official access and pricing
Play Sudoku at NYTimes.com/puzzles/sudoku. Check the official NYT page for current availability and subscription terms.
Strategy by skill level
- Start with singles: scan rows, columns, and boxes for places where a digit can only fit once.
- Use pencil marks: note candidates per cell to reveal hidden singles after each placement.
- Spot pairs and triples: when two cells in a unit share the same pair of numbers, eliminate those numbers elsewhere in the unit.
- Graduate to patterns: X-Wing and Swordfish techniques catch repeating candidates in aligned rows and columns on harder puzzles.
- Box-line reduction: if a candidate only appears in one row of a box, remove it from the rest of that row in neighboring boxes.
Starting plan: fill all given numbers into candidates mode, then sweep each 3×3 box for hidden singles. Move to line-based scans (rows and columns) to lock in pairs, and only then attempt advanced patterns. When stuck, toggle off auto-check and test a candidate chain in one corner to see if it forces a contradiction—undo if necessary.
Deliberate drills and timing goals
Adopt a rotating practice plan: on Mondays aim to clear all singles in under two minutes; midweek, focus on spotting pointing pairs and box-line reductions; on weekends, pick one advanced technique (X-Wing, XY-Wing, Swordfish) and apply it at least twice per puzzle. Track how often each tactic appears—the log becomes your personal "Genius" ladder for logic play.
- Corner drill: choose one 3×3 box and solve it completely before moving on. This isolates deduction and prevents scattered guessing.
- Candidate sweep: after every placement, rescan the affected row, column, and box to erase now-impossible numbers. Consistency yields cascading singles.
- Time splits: set a five-minute cap for the opening phase; if you have not placed at least 15 numbers, restart and adjust your scan order.
- Reconstruction: finish a puzzle, erase all givens, and rebuild using only pencil marks. The reconstruction step cements pattern recognition for tougher Hard grids.
Interesting facts
NYT Sudoku joined the platform to give solvers a numbers-based break from word puzzles. Its timer settings mirror the Crossword’s streak tracking, letting players measure personal bests across both logic and vocabulary games.
Practice idea: replay a completed puzzle in “notes only” mode, removing all given digits, and rebuild the solution using just candidate logic. This trains deduction and reduces reliance on guesswork in Hard grids.
Sources and further reading
- NYT Games: Sudoku — official access and game information.
- NYT Help Center: Word Games and Logic Puzzles — official support information.