Mini Sudoku

Mini Sudoku is sudoku made small. Instead of a 9×9 grid, you solve a 4×4 grid with the numbers 1 to 4 or a 6×6 grid with the numbers 1 to 6. The cells are big and easy to tap, a puzzle takes a minute or two, and the rules are the same as full-size sudoku, so it makes a good first puzzle for kids and a quick break for everyone else. Play Mini Sudoku online free in your browser, with no download, on a computer, tablet or phone.

How to play

• Pick a size: 4×4 has four rows, four columns and four 2×2 boxes. 6×6 has six rows, six columns and six boxes that are 2 cells tall and 3 cells wide.
• Fill the grid: every row, every column and every box must contain each number exactly once. On 4×4 that means 1, 2, 3 and 4. On 6×6 it means 1 to 6.
• Enter numbers: tap a square, then tap a number below the board, or type it on a keyboard. Tap the same number again to clear it.
• Win: the puzzle is solved when every square is right. The game shows your time and your best time.

There are three levels for each size. On 4×4, Easy starts with 10 of the 16 squares filled, Medium with 7, and Hard with as few as 4 or 5. On 6×6, Easy starts with 20 numbers, Medium with 14 and Hard with about 10. Every puzzle is made fresh and checked to have exactly one answer. The Daily button gives a Medium puzzle that stays the same all day.

Pictures mode

On the 4×4 grid you can switch on Pictures. The numbers become a red circle, a blue square, a yellow triangle and a green star, and the number pad shows the same shapes. The rule doesn’t change: each shape appears once in every row, column and box. Young children who don’t know their numbers yet can play with colors and shapes instead.

Tools in the game

• Notes: turn on Notes (or press N) to write small reminders of what a square might be. Placing a number clears it from the notes in the same row, column and box.
• Highlight: shows the row, column and box of the square you picked, and every square with the same number.
• Conflicts: a number that appears twice in a row, column or box turns red. You can switch this off for an extra challenge.
• Hint: fills one square and tells you why, for example that a number is the only one left for that square, or that a square is the only place for a number in its row. If something you entered is wrong, the hint fixes it first. Each hint adds 10 seconds.
• Check, Undo and Redo: Check marks wrong answers, and Undo and Redo step through your moves.

Press P or Esc to pause. The game remembers your unfinished puzzle, your chosen size, best and average times for each level, and your daily streak (tap Stats).

Tips for kids and beginners

• Look for the missing one. If a row already has 1, 2 and 4, the empty square must be 3. This is the easiest move in sudoku.
• Check the box too. A square has to fit its row, its column and its box, so look at all three before you choose.
• Go number by number. Pick one number and find every place it can go. In a 4×4 box there is often only one spot left.
• Move up a size. When 4×4 feels easy, try 6×6, then classic 9×9 sudoku.

FAQ

Is Mini Sudoku free?

Yes. There’s no account, no download and nothing to buy.

Is Mini Sudoku good for kids?

Yes. A 4×4 puzzle uses only four numbers, the squares are large, and Pictures mode lets children play with shapes before they know their numbers. The rules are the same as the full game, so skills carry over.

Does every puzzle have one answer?

Yes. Each puzzle is checked with a solver to make sure there’s exactly one way to fill the grid, so it can be solved by thinking it through.

Does it work on a tablet or phone?

Yes. Tap a square, then a number. The board fits screens down to 320 pixels wide, and touching it doesn’t scroll the page.

Can I use a keyboard?

Yes. Arrow keys move, number keys fill a square, Backspace erases, N turns on notes, Z and Y undo and redo, H gives a hint and P pauses.

Ready for the full grid? Play classic Sudoku, or try Picross for a different kind of logic puzzle. Parents can find more ideas in our guide to sudoku for kids.