Welcome to GMPuzzles!

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:

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.

Sudoku by Thomas Snyder

We recently provided several of the puzzles for the United States Sudoku Team Qualifying Test and will be posting these here every couple days through July. This second puzzle (#3 from the contest) is a harder Classic Sudoku (10 points).

Sudoku by Thomas Snyder

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: Tee Ball

Author/Opus: This is the 608th puzzle from Thomas Snyder, aka Dr. Sudoku.

Rules: Insert a number from 1 to 9 into each white cell so that no number repeats in any row, column, or bold region.

Difficulty (highlight to view): 3 stars

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 3:00, Master = 5:00, Expert = 10:00

Solution: PDF; a YouTube video discussing this creation will be posted this weekend.

Note: Follow this link for classic Sudoku. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Sudoku to get started on. More classic Sudoku puzzles can be found in The Art of Sudoku, The Art of Sudoku 2 and in our beginner-friendly collection Intro to GMPuzzles by Serkan Yürekli.

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

Zipper Lines Sudoku by Bill Murphy

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
Bill’s here with a three-peat: a third three-cell line theme in three posts. Today the cells at the ends of the lines must sum to the value in the center.

Zipper Lines Sudoku by Bill Murphy

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: Mission Accomplished

Author/Opus: This is the 133rd 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). For each line, the numbers in each pair of cells an equal distance away from the center of the line must sum up to the value in the central cell of the line.

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

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 2:16, 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.

X-Sums Sudoku by clover!

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
There are a lot of large numbers to think about in this X-Sums Sudoku. Can you find any simple ways to handle all the big math?

X-Sums Sudoku by clover!

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: Big Math

Author/Opus: This is the 154th 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, the clues outside the grid indicate the sum of the first X numbers placed in the corresponding direction, where X is equal to the first number placed in that direction (e.g., if R1C7 is 6, then the six numbers in R1C7, R2C7, and on to R6C7 all add up to 39).

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

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 1:47, 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.

Sudoku by Thomas Snyder

We recently provided several of the puzzles for the United States Sudoku Team Qualifying Test and will be posting these here every couple days through July. This first puzzle is the easiest Classic Sudoku (5 points) from the contest.

Sudoku by Thomas Snyder

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: One Vs. Many

Author/Opus: This is the 607th puzzle from Thomas Snyder, aka Dr. Sudoku.

Rules: Insert a number from 1 to 9 into each white cell so that no number repeats in any row, column, or bold region.

Difficulty (highlight to view): 2 stars

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 2:30, Master = 3:30, Expert = 7:00

Solution: PDF; a YouTube video discussing this creation will be posted this weekend.

Note: Follow this link for classic Sudoku. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Sudoku to get started on. More classic Sudoku puzzles can be found in The Art of Sudoku, The Art of Sudoku 2 and in our beginner-friendly collection Intro to GMPuzzles by Serkan Yürekli.

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

Slow Thermo-Sudoku by Philip Newman

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
Numeral diffusion occurs gradually in this Slow Thermo-Sudoku.

Slow Thermo-Sudoku by Philip Newman

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: Thermodynamic Disequilibrium

Author/Opus: This is the 134th 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). Some thermometer shapes are in the grid; numbers must either increase or stay the same in each cell going from the round bulb to the flat end. (For instance, a thermometer might contain the sequence 233577888 in that order.)

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 5:00; One party hat (🥳): 12:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: Yuppie Yunmenglong.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 1:29, 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 Thermo-Sudoku puzzles. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Thermo-Sudoku to get started on. More Thermo-Sudoku puzzles 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 some Thermo-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.

German Whispers Sudoku by Bill Murphy

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
Bill is back with another three-cell line theme, this time as a set of German Whispers all the way around the grid.

German Whispers Sudoku by Bill Murphy

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: Team Rocket Base

Author/Opus: This is the 132nd 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). Adjacent numbers connected by a green line must differ by at least 5.

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

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 2:45, 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.

Max-Min Sudoku by clover!

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
The outside clues in this Sudoku variation will have you considering some pretty constrained sums to get to the solution.

Max-Min Sudoku by clover!

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: Squashed Sums

Author/Opus: This is the 153rd 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). Clues on the outside of the grid indicate the sum of the largest and the smallest numbers of the first three cells seen in that direction. (For instance, the R3 outside clue (6) indicates that the sum of the largest number and smallest number out of the rightmost three numbers in that row is 6.)

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

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 2:00, 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.

Sandwich Sudoku by Philip Newman

(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.

Sandwich Sudoku by Philip Newman

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.

Sequence Lines Sudoku by Bill Murphy

(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.

Sequence Lines Sudoku by Bill Murphy

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.

Greater Sudoku by clover!

(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.

Greater Sudoku by clover!

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 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.