How it's different
Sudoku Hyper uses the same 9x9 grid and 3x3 boxes as classic Sudoku, with one addition: four extra interior 3x3 regions - 36 cells total - must also each contain the numbers 1 through 9 exactly once. These regions don't line up with the normal boxes; they're offset by one row and column, so each one overlaps parts of four different boxes. They're marked with a distinct border and tinted background, so you can see exactly which cells carry the extra rule without clicking on anything.
How to play
Controls are identical to classic Sudoku - the only difference is the four extra regions, and the board marks which cells they cover for you:
Cell First mode: click the cell you want to fill in first, then select the number you want to enter.
Number First mode: select the number you want to enter first, then click the cell you want to fill it into.
Memo mode: pencil in a memo of candidate numbers in a blank cell, instead of committing to one right away.
- Watch for the marked regions - a duplicate number anywhere in that same region gets flagged red, even if it doesn't share a row, column, or box.
- Made a mistake? Undo steps back through your moves.
- Stuck? The hint button reveals one correct cell for you.
- Solve the board completely and it submits automatically.
Rules
Fill in the blanks with numbers from 1 to 9. Each row, column, 3x3 box, and each of the four marked interior regions must contain the numbers 1 through 9 exactly once.
Strategy tips
- Treat the marked regions like extra boxes. Once a number appears anywhere in one, rule it out everywhere else in that same region.
- The regions overlap parts of four different boxes each. Since they're offset from the normal box grid, working out candidates in a marked region can narrow down cells across multiple boxes at once - not just the region itself.
- Check the overlap zones early. A cell inside a marked region is constrained by its row, column, box, and region all at once - four constraints instead of three often narrows it down fast.
- Start with the fullest rows, columns, boxes, and regions, same fundamental principle as any Sudoku variant.
FAQ
How do I know which cells are part of the extra regions?
They're marked with a colored border and tinted background, visible at all times - no need to click a cell to see which ones carry the extra rule.
Do the four regions replace the row/column/box rules?
No - they're an addition. Every cell still needs to satisfy its row, column, and box exactly like classic Sudoku; region cells just have one more rule on top.
Do the regions line up with the normal 3x3 boxes?
No - they're offset by one row and column, so each region overlaps parts of four different boxes rather than matching one box exactly.
Is there only one solution to each puzzle?
Yes - and it's guaranteed to satisfy all four regions too, not just rows/columns/boxes.
Can I play the same difficulty more than once in a day?
You can, just for fun - but only your first correct solve of the day counts toward today's leaderboard, and that difficulty locks afterward.