A quick beginner-friendly puzzle with scanning and naked singles.
Easy Sudoku requires only two techniques to solve completely. Master these and you'll be ready for medium difficulty in no time.
The most fundamental technique. Look at each row, column and 3×3 box — if a digit appears in two of the three related units, the third unit can only place it in one remaining cell.
Example
If '5' appears in row 1 and row 2 of the top-left box, then '5' must be in row 3 of that box. Combine with column constraints to narrow it to a single cell.
Start with digits that appear most often on the board — they constrain other cells the most.
A Naked Single is when a cell has only one possible candidate left. After eliminating all digits already present in the cell's row, column and box, only one digit can possibly go there.
Example
A cell in row 4, column 7 sees 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 in its row/col/box. The only digit not seen is 7 — that's the answer.
Use pencil marks to track all candidates in each cell. When a cell has only one mark left, it's a naked single.
A Hidden Single is when a digit can only go in one cell within a row, column or box — even though that cell may appear to have multiple candidates. The digit is 'hidden' among other candidates.
Example
In a row, the digit '3' can only go in column 4 — all other cells in that row already have '3' eliminated. Even if that cell has pencil marks [3, 7, 9], you know it must be 3.
Scan each unit (row/col/box) for each digit. If a digit appears in only one cell's candidate list within a unit — place it.
✅ Easy Sudoku only requires the first two techniques. Ready to unlock the rest? Try Medium Sudoku →
New to Sudoku? Here's everything you need to know to start solving confidently.
Fill a 9×9 grid so that every row, every column, and every 3×3 box contains the digits 1–9 exactly once. Simple rules — endlessly deep strategy.
Easy puzzles start with 36–46 digits pre-filled (called 'givens'). Start by studying the grid — notice which digits appear most frequently and which boxes are nearly complete.
Pick a digit (say, '5') and mark all its appearances. For each unfilled box, eliminate positions where '5' can't go due to its row or column. If only one position remains — place it!
For cells you can't immediately solve, note all possible candidates. Press N to enter notes mode. As you fill more cells, candidates get eliminated automatically.
A cell with only one candidate left is a Naked Single — place it confidently. Filling it often triggers a chain reaction of other naked singles. Easy puzzles are usually solved this way.
Keep scanning and placing naked singles. Each solved cell removes candidates from its row, column and box — making the next cell easier. An easy puzzle never requires guessing.
Tracking candidates across rows, columns and boxes actively exercises your working memory — the brain's mental workspace. Research links regular number puzzles to improved recall and attention span.
Sudoku trains your brain to spot structural patterns rapidly. Solvers who play daily report that naked singles become almost instantaneous — a sign of genuine neural rewiring.
The repetitive, rule-based structure of easy Sudoku is genuinely calming. Many players describe it as a 'flow state' — a form of active mindfulness that quiets mental chatter.
Your solve time for easy puzzles naturally decreases with practice. Tracking your progress is deeply satisfying and provides concrete evidence of cognitive improvement.
Every advanced technique (X-Wing, Swordfish, ALS-XZ) is built on scanning and naked singles. Internalizing easy fundamentals is the fastest path to solving expert puzzles.
Unlike cryptic crosswords or chess puzzles, Sudoku has no language barrier and no prior knowledge requirement. The rules are learned in 60 seconds — the mastery takes a lifetime.
Everything beginners want to know about easy Sudoku.
Start by scanning for digits that appear frequently on the board. Look at each 3×3 box and use the digits already placed in its row and column to eliminate possibilities. Most easy puzzles can be solved purely through scanning and naked singles — no guessing required.
Easy Sudoku is designed so that every empty cell can be solved using only two techniques: scanning (cross-hatching) and naked singles. Medium puzzles introduce hidden singles, which require more careful analysis of each row, column, and box. Easy puzzles are ideal for building the logical thinking habits you'll use in harder difficulties.
No account is needed to play. You can jump straight into a puzzle right now. Creating a free account lets you save your progress, track your solve streaks, earn XP, unlock achievements and appear on the global leaderboard.
Use arrow keys to navigate between cells. Press 1–9 to place a digit. Press Backspace or Delete to clear a cell. Press N to toggle notes/pencil-mark mode (you can then enter multiple candidates in one cell). Press Z to undo your last move.
Absolutely. Easy Sudoku is the foundation of every advanced technique. By mastering scanning and naked singles until they become instinctive, you free your mental energy for the more complex patterns in hard and expert puzzles. Most grandmaster solvers still start every puzzle by doing a full scan pass.
MySudokuWorld generates easy Sudoku puzzles algorithmically — each one is computer-verified to have exactly one unique solution. New puzzles are generated on demand, so you'll never run out. Each puzzle is also different enough to give you a fresh experience every time.
Ready to push further — or want a different kind of challenge?
Ready to level up? Medium puzzles add hidden singles.
Play now →Introduces naked pairs and locked candidates.
Play now →A new puzzle every day — build your solve streak!
Play now →Stuck? Paste any puzzle and see the solution step by step.
Play now →Shorter puzzles — great for a quick 2-minute brain warm-up.
Play now →X-Wing, Swordfish and more — for serious solvers.
Play now →