Sudoku that teaches, plus daily logicThinking Cap
A calm puzzle companion: a Sudoku that teaches you as you go, and a fresh daily set of short logic puzzles. Every Sudoku is made on your phone, checked to have exactly one answer and graded by the hardest step a person needs, so a Tricky puzzle really is tricky. Stuck? The tutor points you to the right part of the grid first, then explains the step in plain words.
Not on Google Play yet. Free, always: the daily set, today's Sudoku, unlimited Gentle, Moderate and Tricky Sudoku and every hint. Thinking Cap Pro is a yearly Puzzle Pass or a one-time Lifetime unlock, with the same Pro either way.
What it does
- Sudoku in six levels, from Gentle to Diabolical, graded by the hardest step a person needs
- Every puzzle made on your phone and checked to have exactly one answer
- A tutor that nudges first, then highlights the pattern and explains why the step works
- Techniques from only place and only number to pairs, X-Wings, Swordfish, kites and chains, with worked examples in the guide
- Killer, Jigsaw and Thermo variants
- A daily set of five puzzles, the same for everyone: Beacons, Balance, Thread, Sketch and today's Sudoku
- Pencil notes, fill in all notes, undo and mistake checking you can switch off
- Turn a photo of your dog, your garden or your grandchildren into a Sketch picture puzzle (Pro)
- Large, clear numbers in Atkinson Hyperlegible, Paper, Lamplight and High contrast themes, and a Bigger everything switch
- No timers unless you turn one on, and no streaks to lose
- Share a tidy result card that shows how you did, never the answers
- Works offline, no account, progress stays on your phone
- Free: the daily set, today's Sudoku, unlimited Gentle, Moderate and Tricky Sudoku, yesterday's set and every hint
- Pro, yearly or lifetime: Tough, Fiendish and Diabolical, all three variants at every level, the full archive, practice, photo puzzles, stats and extra themes
Articles
Questions
When can I get it?
Thinking Cap is not on Google Play yet. This page will link to it when it launches.
Is Thinking Cap free?
Yes. The daily set, today's Sudoku (including the Sunday variant), unlimited Gentle, Moderate and Tricky Sudoku, yesterday's set to catch up on and every hint from the tutor are free, always.
What does Pro add, and how do I pay for it?
Pro adds Tough, Fiendish and Diabolical Sudoku, all three variants at every level, the full archive of past daily sets, unlimited practice of each daily puzzle, photo puzzles, your stats and extra colour themes. Choose the Puzzle Pass, a yearly subscription with a free trial for new subscribers, or Lifetime, a single payment. Both unlock exactly the same Pro, both prices are shown in full before you buy, and you can cancel the Puzzle Pass any time in Google Play.
How does the hint tutor work?
Tap Hint and the tutor first nudges you towards the right part of the grid, for example: "Look at box 5. Where can the 7 go?" Ask again and it highlights the pattern and explains in plain words why the step works, or it can make the move for you. It also spots a wrong number or a missing note before you go astray.
How are the Sudoku levels graded?
By the hardest step a person needs, not by how many numbers you start with. Gentle needs only the one place a number can go, Moderate adds squares that can take only one number, Tricky needs pencil notes for pointing and pairs, Tough brings triples, X-Wings and Y-Wings, Fiendish adds Swordfish, kites and skyscrapers, and Diabolical needs chains.
What are the daily puzzles?
Five each morning, the same for everyone. Beacons: light one beacon in every row, column and coloured region, with no two touching. Balance: share dark and light stones evenly, never three alike in a row. Thread: draw one line through every square, passing the beads in order. Sketch: shade squares to reveal a little picture. And today's Sudoku, gentle on Monday, stiffer by Saturday and a variant on Sunday. Every puzzle can be solved by reasoning alone.
Is it easy on the eyes?
That was a priority. Every number uses Atkinson Hyperlegible, a typeface designed for low vision readers, and there are Paper, Lamplight (dark) and High contrast themes plus a Bigger everything switch on top of your phone's text size. There are no timers unless you turn one on, and no streaks to lose.
Does it need internet or an account?
No. It works offline, there is no account or sign in, and your progress stays on your phone. A photo puzzle keeps only the little shaded picture; your photo stays where it was.
Thinking Cap is nearly here
It will be on Google Play soon. Questions in the meantime? Email us