Master Sudoku

Free Master Sudoku puzzles to play right here, with no ads and no sign-up. When you finish one, New puzzle gives you the next; your progress stays on this device.

How to solve Master Sudoku

What makes a puzzle Master is the hardest step it needs. Most often that step is XY-Chain (59%), W-Wing (28%), X-Chain (6%), or XYZ-Wing (5%).

Master puzzles are mostly decided by chains. An XY-Chain links squares with two candidates each, end to end; a W-Wing joins two identical pairs through a number that has only two places in a row, column or box. Follow the chain and see what both of its ends rule out.

Learn XY-Chain step by step →

Master Sudoku: questions and answers

How many numbers do Master puzzles start with?

Master puzzles here start with 26 to 30 of the 81 squares filled in, most of them with 26.

Do Master puzzles need guessing?

No. Every puzzle has exactly one solution, and the hint engine of our app solves each one with logic alone, one technique at a time.

Can I get a hint while I play?

Yes. Hint names the technique the next step needs and shows it on your board one step at a time, with the same hint engine our app uses.

What comes after Master?

One level up, Extreme puzzles are most often decided by ALS-XZ.

All six levels

Easy SudokuNearly Complete (95%)
Medium SudokuHidden Single (100%)
Hard SudokuPointing Pair (60%), Naked Pair (18%), Box/Line Reduction (13%), or Hidden Pair (6%)
Expert SudokuSkyscraper (55%), Y-Wing (30%), or Empty Rectangle (6%)
Master SudokuXY-Chain (59%), W-Wing (28%), X-Chain (6%), or XYZ-Wing (5%)
Extreme SudokuALS-XZ (86%) or Unique Rectangle (12%)

Want more boards like this?

We also make a Sudoku app for iPhone, iPad, Mac and Android. There are no ads in it at all, it works offline, and when you ask for a hint it shows you the technique instead of just filling in a number.

Sudoku Flow is made by Rubigo Games, the developer of the Sudoku app recommended on this site.