Everyone’s favorite numerical puzzle game has exploded on the iPhone with more great apps than you can shake a stick at. If you’re unfamiliar with how to play, the basic premise is that each row, column and block of nine squares must contain only one of each number 1-9. The premise is simple and the possibilities endless! Prepare to be addicted.
Below we’ll take a look at a good representation of the Sudoku apps you’ll find for the iPhone. The first section represents some of the best standard Sudoku apps you’ll find, the second section contains solvers to help you out and scanners to grab printed puzzles, and the last section contains some really interesting and unique Sudoku interpretations. Let’s get started!
Standard Sudoku
Sudoku ?
“Two separate keypads, one for entries and one for notes, allow you to enter values quickly and easily. No more tedious switching between entry mode and note mode to complete your puzzle. The optional auto-notes feature enters all of the notes into the puzzle for you and keeps them updated as you solve. If you don’t want that much help, the optional smart notes feature automatically deletes values from notes you have entered manually when they are no longer valid.”
Price: Free
iTunes Rating: 3/5
Sudoku ?
:) Sudoku
“With unlimited play at sixteen difficulty levels, novices and experienced players alike will appreciate Enjoy Sudoku. Our tutorial, extensive feature set, and advanced hint system offer something for every player. The more you play, the more you will enjoy it!”
Price: $2.99
iTunes Rating: 4/5
:) Sudoku
Sudoku
“Makers of the Best Sudoku Game of 2008, Sudoku (Free), we offer you the best selling Sudoku game for iPhone with great features and 800 unique puzzles! Sudoku will give you many hours of fun and puzzle solving. Enjoy the challenge of solving Sudoku puzzles whenever or wherever you are using your iPhone or iPod Touch.”
Price: $2.99
iTunes Rating: 4/5
Sudoku
+SUDOKU
“+SUDOKU is sudoku with unlimited puzzles of any difficulty at any time + the ability to switch between multiple active grids. The “easy” level is great for a quickie puzzle on the go. Or, try “diabolical” for a sleepless night of puzzle solving. With 6 distinct difficulty levels, there’s always a puzzle ready for any occasion! And with multiple active grids, you can always put one aside when you’re stuck and go back to it later.”
Price: $0.99
iTunes Rating: 4.5/5
+SUDOKU
Sudoku!
“Sudoku! has a unique, clear and beautiful interface suitable for longevity Sudoku game play. It also comes with awesome features to help anyone easily complete a puzzle from the novice to the expert without any frustration. Sudoku! has a variety of puzzles ranging in 5 difficulties from Easy to Devilish to keep you entertained for hundred of hours.”
Price: $0.99
iTunes Rating: 4.5/5
Sudoku!
Big Bad Sudoku Book
Price: $0.99
iTunes Rating: Not rated
Big Bad Sudoku Book
Sudoku 100,000,000
“With over 100,000,000 Sudoku puzzles, you’ll never see the same puzzle twice in Sudoku 100,000,000! You can select the classic nine-by-nine Sukodu gameboards as well as Grand Sudoku which challenges you to complete five intersecting Sudoku boards simultaneously! Just a beginner? Don’t worry – With three difficulty options, even the most novice player can complete a Sudoku with ease. But if you’re a seasoned pro, challenge yourself in ‘Expert’ mode and test your true skills. It’s time to get your thinking cap on and see how many Sudoku puzzles you can conquer!”
Price: $9.99
iTunes Rating: 3.5/5
Sudoku 100,000,000
Amazing Sudoku
“A game of logic and concentration! Strain your brain and enjoy impressive graphics and infinite game play! Classic Sudoku and Magic Sudoku with different levels so both skilled Sudoku players and novices will definitely like it. ”
Price: $0.99
iTunes Rating: 3.5/5
Amazing Sudoku
Sudoku 2 Pro
“Sudoku 2 PRO is Sudoku + Point System, Runs, and Online Leaderboards. Discover the next evolution of Sudoku with amazing graphics, animations, and ease of use. This is a Sudoku like one you have never experienced before .”
Price: $2.99
iTunes Rating: 4.5/5
Sudoku 2 Pro
Tap Sudoku
“This feature packed rendition of Sudoku brings the supremely addictive classic to the iPhone with rich, bright graphics and completely absorbing game play. Get lost for hours in endless entrancing boards, beat today’s high score and improve your Sudoku skills with tips from the experts.”
Price: Free
iTunes Rating: 3.5/5
Tap Sudoku
Social Sudoku
“Social Sudoku – The first multi-player Sudoku from the puzzlers behind the LA Times, Chicago Tribune, Daily Telegraph as well as the world’s largest Sudoku community – sudoku.org.uk! Want the Sudoku you know and love? Social Sudoku has all your favorite styles within the same app ranging from Gentle and Moderate to Diabolical and Extreme!”
Price: $3.99
iTunes Rating: Not Rated
Social Sudoku
Mr. Sudoku
“If you’re already a Sudoku fan, meet your new best friend — Mr. Sudoku. If you’re not yet a Sudoku fan, you soon will be! The unique and innovative interface lets you use a familiar input device to select your digits — your own personal digits! Draw the number you want, and it’s instantly converted into the actual number. Mr. Sudoku is a casual game you can pick up and play whenever you want, yet dismiss quickly to take that incoming call. When you’re ready to resume, tap the Mr. Sudoku icon and you’re back where you left off!”
Price: $1.99
iTunes Rating: Not rated
Mr. Sudoku
Sudoku with Dr. Dim Sum
“You no longer have to search newspapers for a Sudoku puzzle to solve, all you need to do is launch ‘Sudoku with Dr Dim Sum’ on your iPhone or iTouch. With over million Sudoku puzzles to solve, this is the one stop application for all Sudoku fans. Get going with Dr Dim Sum, through various difficulty levels including the ability to customize the puzzle grid as per your own liking. Keep Solving!”
Price: $0.99
iTunes Rating: 2.5/5
Sudoku with Dr. Dim Sum
Tile Sudoku
“TileSudoku combines the famous puzzle game with natural interface that feels just right on the iPhone. It presents the puzzle as a game board covered with tiles which you can move around the screen with your fingertip. To enrich the gameplay experience even better, there are rich graphics, animations and sound effects. Playing is easy — To fill the board, you just drag number tiles into open slots. If you change your mind, just drag that tile to another slot or back into the tile tray at the bottom of the screen. To sketch in possible numbers, a quick double-tap on a slot allows you to select the numbers you want to remember.”
Price: $0.99
iTunes Rating: Not rated
Tile Sudoku
Solvers and Scanners
Sudoku Grab
“Use the iPhone’s camera to grab a puzzle! Also has an augmented reality mode to really show off. Just take a photograph and Sudoku Grab does the rest. You can grab as many puzzles as you want, the puzzle database has a handy “tagging” system that lets you quickly grab and tag so you know exactly where your puzzles came from.”
Price: $1.99
iTunes Rating: Not Rated
Sudoku Grab
Sudoku 101 (Free)
“Wondering what the hype is about Sudoku? This is the introductory course for Sudoku, ideal for beginners. It is a Sudoku game, a generator, a solver, and a teacher/tutor.”
Price: Free
iTunes Rating: 3/5
Sudoku 101 (Free)
Sudoku Magic ? The Ultimate Sudoku App
“With Sudoku Magic, you can capture any Sudoku puzzle -from a newspaper, a magazine, even from your computer screen- just by taking a photo with your iPhone’s Camera. But this is more than just a cool app to impress your friends with! Sudoku Magic also provides a unique playing interface to create, play and solve an unlimited number of Sudokus.”
Price: Free
iTunes Rating: 3.5/5
Sudoku Magic ? The Ultimate Sudoku App
Sudoku With a Twist
Sudoku Cross – A Sudoku/Crossword Puzzle Hybrid
“The more you play the more addicted you become! Enjoy Sudoku Cross today! Sudoku Cross is a hybrid between Sudoku and Crossword puzzles. If you like the challenge of Sudoku puzzles and the intriguing way crossword puzzles fit together then you will absolutely love this game!”
Price: $0.99
iTunes Rating: Not rated
Sudoku Cross – A Sudoku/Crossword Puzzle Hybrid
GemSudoku
“This is the most gorgeous sudoku you’ve ever seen! Not only beautiful, the colors aid in your judgement too! We prepared thousands of puzzles for your puzzle-solving enjoyments. GemSudoku follow the basic sudoku rule: you fill the empty cell with number/gem 1-9 so that each row/column/block has exactly 9 different gems.”
Price: $1.99
iTunes Rating: 3.5/5
GemSudoku
Soccer Sudoku 2010
“To all those who love soccer and challenges, Soccer Sudoku 2010 offers a unique experience. Screw in your cleats, put on your boots and play for your team Sudoku against the clock, in relax mode or against other players around the world.”
Price: $0.99
iTunes Rating: 3/5
Soccer Sudoku 2010
Deca Color Sudoku
“Deca Color Sudoku presents a colorful twist on the known and loved Sudoku puzzle. Instead of numbers, the board is filled with 9 different colors for you to complete.”
Price: Free
iTunes Rating: Not rated
Deca Color Sudoku
Color Sudoku!
Another variation of color-based sudoku, much like the one above.
Price: $1.99
iTunes Rating: Not rated
Color Sudoku!
Jigsaw Sudoku
“Jigsaw Sudoku offers an exiting new angle on Sudoku puzzles, with challenging puzzles in various board shapes. Whether if this is your first Sudoku game, or you are already familiar with Sudoku, you will find the puzzles and challenges exiting and refreshing.”
Price: Free
iTunes Rating: 3/5
Jigsaw Sudoku
a red yukendo – Sudoku / KenKen variant
“yukendo is an addictive puzzle game that shares many concepts with sudoku, but adds some variety to the well known gameplay. Easy to learn but difficult to master – a game for puzzle fans and number crunchers.”
Price: Free
iTunes Rating: 2.5/5
a red yukendo – Sudoku / KenKen variant
Sudoku 3D
“Sudoku 3D, by oBo Games, has figured out how to put millions of Sudoku puzzles onto a cube. Then they added all sorts of fun features to make your puzzling experience very challenging. ”
Price: $0.99
iTunes Rating: 3.5/5
Sudoku 3D
Which Is Your Favorite?
The apps above should collectively provide a virtually endless stream of Sudoku puzzles to players of all levels and even to those looking for a fresh take on the game.
Leave a comment below and let us know what your favorite Sudoku apps are. Also, what other Sudoku-like puzzle games have you found?