The Art of Puzzles

On this site, and with our partners, we showcase “The Art of Puzzles”, with hand-crafted logic puzzles by the best puzzle designers for all who love puzzles. If you’re new to logic games, you might want to start with the daily puzzles we share through partners like LinkedIn (where our founder Thomas Snyder is the Principal Puzzlemaster), including Mini Sudoku (6×6), Patches, Queens, Tango, and Zip.

On this blog we share many other games and a broader range of difficulties. We organize into the categories of Sudoku, Number Placement, Object Placement, Shading, Region Division, and Loop/Path puzzles with tags on each post to find the easiest/hardest within particular styles. There are also many puzzles in our subscriptions and books so check out our Store for more details and to support our puzzlemakers.

New to the site and to logic puzzles besides Sudoku? Here is a web intro to Tapa, a great shading puzzle invented by Serkan Yürekli, our managing editor, with example walkthrough and a curated set of puzzles from our archive. Also check out our books like Intro to GMPuzzles and the Starter Packs for great beginner series.

Since June 2025, we’ve been running the “Twelve Months of Sudoku?” project, where we take a year to see how far we can push the limits of sudoku, with new partners, projects, and different things than we’ve ever tried to do before. This includes:

• The daily Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) with sudoku variations to keep the puzzle exciting;
• “A Story of Self-setting Sudoku” by Thomas Snyder / Dr. Sudoku, with curious classic Sudoku of various difficulties tied into a story/puzzlehunt-like experience;
• Sudoku-focused YouTube videos including “How to Solve Sudoku Like a World Champion” and shorter stories in the “Today in Sudoku” series. Check out our YouTube channel;
• Other surprises in the future.

If you are a subscriber for any of our seasons since July 2023, please use this page to login and make sure you see all content.

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
Sometimes a good old-fashioned PB&J hits the spot. As a toddler, my wife actually ate PB&Js — with a side of grapes and cheese puffs — every. Single. Day. If peanut butter and jelly sounds good to you right about now, then it’s time to gobble up this Sandwich Sudoku.

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: Peanut Butter Jelly Time

Author/Opus: This is the 133rd puzzle from Philip Newman, part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) team.

Rules: Standard Sudoku rules (insert a number from 1 to 9 into each cell so that no number repeats in any row, column, or bold region). A value outside of the grid is a sandwich clue — it tells you the sum of the digits between the 1 and the 9 in that row or column, not including the 1 and 9 themselves.

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 10:00; One party hat (🥳): 20:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: Xylophonic Xianshanosaurus.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 3:08, with SudokuPad replay file shared as a download for now (requires loading via settings menu with improvements expected before people should use this regularly).

Solution: PDF; solving video with explanation to be added later from GAS team.

Note: Follow this link for other less common variations of Sudoku.

Note 2: Comments on the blog are great! For a more interactive discussion, please also consider using our Daily GAS discussion post on the GMPuzzles Discord. Not a member of the Discord? Click this link for basic access.

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
Everything should fall in sequence if you are approaching the logic of this Sudoku correctly.

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Author/Opus: This is the 131st puzzle from Bill Murphy, part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) team.

Rules: Standard Sudoku rules (insert a number from 1 to 9 into each cell so that no number repeats in any row, column, or bold region). Also, an arithmetic series must be formed along each line so that numbers in adjacent cells have the same difference. Different lines may have different common differences. (For example, a sequence line could be 1-2-3-4 (difference of 1), 1-5-9 (difference of 4), or even 5-5-5 (difference of 0) as long as it obeys other Sudoku rules.)

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 7:00; One party hat (🥳): 13:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: Thankful Tazoudasaurus.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 3:05, with SudokuPad replay file shared as a download for now (requires loading via settings menu with improvements expected before people should use this regularly).

Solution: PDF; solving video with explanation to be added later from GAS team.

Note: Follow this link for other less common variations of Sudoku.

Note 2: Comments on the blog are great! For a more interactive discussion, please also consider using our Daily GAS discussion post on the GMPuzzles Discord. Not a member of the Discord? Click this link for basic access.

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
Following yesterday’s Quadruples Sudoku is another variation where small clues describe nearby placements. Here, a number on an edge is the greater of the two values appearing in those cells.

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: Miniature Maxima

Author/Opus: This is the 152nd puzzle from Clover, part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) team.

Rules: Standard Sudoku rules (insert a number from 1 to 9 into each cell so that no number repeats in any row, column, or bold region). Number clues given between pairs of cells indicate the greater number in those two cells. (For instance, of the two numbers in R8C3 and R8C4, one of them must equal 4, and the other one must be less than 4.)

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 7:00; One party hat (🥳): 13:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: mini Mei.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 1:44, with SudokuPad replay file shared as a download for now (requires loading via settings menu with improvements expected before people should use this regularly).

Solution: PDF; solving video with explanation to be added later from GAS team.

Note: Follow this link for other less common variations of Sudoku.

Note 2: Comments on the blog are great! For a more interactive discussion, please also consider using our Daily GAS discussion post on the GMPuzzles Discord. Not a member of the Discord? Click this link for basic access.

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
If you, like a fellow GAS setter, have ever pined for two more givens, this Quadruples Sudoku will give you precisely what you wished for.

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: For Two Givens More

Author/Opus: This is the 132nd puzzle from Philip Newman, part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) team.

Rules: Standard Sudoku rules (insert a number from 1 to 9 into each cell so that no number repeats in any row, column, or bold region). Numbers in white circles must appear in at least one of the four surrounding cells.

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 7:00; One party hat (🥳): 13:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: Winsome Wintonotitan.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 2:42, with SudokuPad replay file shared as a download for now (requires loading via settings menu with improvements expected before people should use this regularly).

Solution: PDF; solving video with explanation to be added later from GAS team.

Note: Follow this link for other less common variations of Sudoku.

Note 2: Comments on the blog are great! For a more interactive discussion, please also consider using our Daily GAS discussion post on the GMPuzzles Discord. Not a member of the Discord? Click this link for basic access.

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
Can you figure how each of the “First Seen” parity clues work in today’s Genuinely Approachable Sudoku from Bill Murphy?

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Author/Opus: This is the 130th puzzle from Bill Murphy, part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) team.

Rules: Standard Sudoku rules (insert a number from 1 to 9 into each cell so that no number repeats in any row, column, or bold region). The clues outside the grid reveal the first odd or even value appearing in that direction in the row or column. Any number of values of the opposite parity (even or odd) may appear before the first odd or even number.

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 8:00; One party hat (🥳): 15:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: Advised Adasaurus.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 3:52, with SudokuPad replay file shared as a download for now (requires loading via settings menu with improvements expected before people should use this regularly).

Solution: PDF; solving video with explanation to be added later from GAS team.

Note: Follow this link for other less common variations of Sudoku.

Note 2: Comments on the blog are great! For a more interactive discussion, please also consider using our Daily GAS discussion post on the GMPuzzles Discord. Not a member of the Discord? Click this link for basic access.

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
For the second time in about a month we have a “Diamond Ring” puzzle from clover!; we expect this variation may lead to a sharper puzzle.

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: Diamond Ring II

Author/Opus: This is the 151st puzzle from Clover, part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) team.

Rules: Standard Sudoku rules (insert a number from 1 to 9 into each cell so that no number repeats in any row, column, or bold region). If a diamond is given between two horizontally adjacent cells, then the two numbers in those cells must differ by X, where X is the first number in that row. If a diamond is given between two vertically adjacent cells, then the two numbers in those cells must differ by Y, where Y is the first number in that column. Pairs of cells without diamonds can have any relationship. For instance, the difference between R7C3 and R7C4 is equal to the value in R7C1 (= 1).

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 7:30; One party hat (🥳): 14:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: married Mantellodon.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 2:13, with SudokuPad replay file shared as a download for now (requires loading via settings menu with improvements expected before people should use this regularly).

Solution: PDF and solving video with explanation from GAS team.

Note: Follow this link for other less common variations of Sudoku.

Note 2: Comments on the blog are great! For a more interactive discussion, please also consider using our Daily GAS discussion post on the GMPuzzles Discord. Not a member of the Discord? Click this link for basic access.

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
Can you weave together these strands of numbers to complete today’s Sudoku?

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: Stranded

Author/Opus: This is the 131st puzzle from Philip Newman, part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) team.

Rules: Standard Sudoku rules (insert a number from 1 to 9 into each cell so that no number repeats in any row, column, or bold region).

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 4:30; One party hat (🥳): 10:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: Vociferous Volgatitan.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 1:34, with SudokuPad replay file shared as a download for now (requires loading via settings menu with improvements expected before people should use this regularly).

Solution: PDF; solving video with explanation to be added later from GAS team.

Note: Follow this link for other classic Sudoku. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Sudoku to get started on. More Sudoku including variations can be found in these books in our e-store. Also, visit this page to purchase all of the puzzles from the 16th World Sudoku Championship including classic Sudoku.

Note 2: Comments on the blog are great! For a more interactive discussion, please also consider using our Daily GAS discussion post on the GMPuzzles Discord. Not a member of the Discord? Click this link for basic access.

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
While an Arrow Sudoku may have some numbers repeating on the arrow paths, in this variation there absolutely must be a repeat.

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Author/Opus: This is the 129th puzzle from Bill Murphy, part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) team.

Rules: Standard Sudoku rules (insert a number from 1 to 9 into each cell so that no number repeats in any row, column, or bold region). Some arrow shapes are in the grid; the sum of the numbers along the path of each arrow must equal the number in the circled cell. At least one of the numbers along the path in each arrow must be repeated. (E.g., 1 + 1 + 7 = 9 would be a valid sum but 2 + 3 + 4 = 9 would not, as no number repeats.)

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 7:00; One party hat (🥳): 13:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: Countdown Corythosaurus.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 2:22, with SudokuPad replay file shared as a download for now (requires loading via settings menu with improvements expected before people should use this regularly).

Solution: PDF; solving video with explanation to be added later from GAS team.

Note: Follow this link for more Arrow Sudoku. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Arrow Sudoku to get started on. More Arrow Sudoku puzzles can be found in these books in our e-store.

Note 2: Comments on the blog are great! For a more interactive discussion, please also consider using our Daily GAS discussion post on the GMPuzzles Discord. Not a member of the Discord? Click this link for basic access.

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
Today’s Mathrax has a powerful theme that might grab your attention and not let go. Can you get away from all the ten-tacles?

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: Ten-tacles

Author/Opus: This is the 150th puzzle from Clover, part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) team.

Rules: Standard Sudoku rules (insert a number from 1 to 9 into each cell so that no number repeats in any row, column, or bold region). Also, some of the intersections of four cells are marked by a circle. If a circle contains a number and an operator, the number must be the result of the operation applied to both pairs of diagonally opposite cells. If a circle contains an “E” that indicates all four cells around the circle must be even.

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 6:30; One party hat (🥳): 12:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: tentacular Tanycolagreus.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 2:23, with SudokuPad replay file shared as a download for now (requires loading via settings menu with improvements expected before people should use this regularly).

Solution: PDF; solving video with explanation to be added later from GAS team.

Note: Follow this link for other less common variations of Sudoku.

Note 2: Comments on the blog are great! For a more interactive discussion, please also consider using our Daily GAS discussion post on the GMPuzzles Discord. Not a member of the Discord? Click this link for basic access.

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
Basketball season may be over, but you can still take a shot at this Even/Odd Sudoku.

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: The Parity Stripe

Author/Opus: This is the 130th puzzle from Philip Newman, part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) team.

Rules: Standard Sudoku rules (insert a number from 1 to 9 into each cell so that no number repeats in any row, column, or bold region). Also, cells with a square contain an even number; cells with a circle contain an odd number.

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 8:00; One party hat (🥳): 15:00. All other solvers earn an 🦕: Urbane Uriash.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 3:09, with SudokuPad replay file shared as a download for now (requires loading via settings menu with improvements expected before people should use this regularly).

Solution: PDF; solving video with explanation to be added later from GAS team.

Note: Follow this link for more Even/Odd Sudoku puzzles. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Even/Odd Sudoku to get started on. More Even/Odd Sudoku can be found in these books in our e-store.

Note 2: Comments on the blog are great! For a more interactive discussion, please also consider using our Daily GAS discussion post on the GMPuzzles Discord. Not a member of the Discord? Click this link for basic access.