Sudoku Variants: 4×4 to 16×16
The classic 9×9 grid is just one size of Sudoku. Play mini 4×4 and 6×6 grids built for speed and beginners, or step up to 12×12 and giant 16×16 for a serious logic challenge. Same rules, same techniques, five different sizes.
4×4 Sudoku
Four 2×2 boxes, numbers 1–4. A fast, gentle grid, ideal for kids and total beginners.
Play 4×4Which Sudoku size should you play?
| Size | Boxes | Symbols | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4×4 | Four 2×2 boxes | 1–4 | Kids, total beginners, a quick 2-minute puzzle |
| 6×6 | Six 3×2 boxes | 1–6 | Building confidence before the classic grid |
| 9×9 | Nine 3×3 boxes | 1–9 | The standard Sudoku everyone recognizes |
| 12×12 | Twelve 4×3 boxes | 1–9, A–C | Experienced players wanting a longer session |
| 16×16 | Sixteen 4×4 boxes | 1–9, A–G | Expert solvers after the biggest challenge |
How Sudoku variants work
Every size on this page follows the exact same rule as classic Sudoku: fill the grid so that every row, every column and every box contains each symbol exactly once. Only two things change from one size to the next — how many symbols there are, and the shape of the boxes.
4×4 and 9×9 use square boxes (2×2 and 3×3), because their size has a whole-number square root. 6×6 and 12×12 don't, so their boxes are rectangles instead — 6×6 splits into six boxes that are 3 columns wide and 2 rows tall, and 12×12 into twelve boxes 4 columns wide and 3 rows tall. 16×16 goes back to square 4×4 boxes, and needs more symbols than digits alone provide, so it uses 1–9 followed by the letters A through G.
Because the underlying rule never changes, every strategy from our how to play Sudoku guide — naked singles, hidden singles, pointing pairs and the rest — applies exactly the same way here, just scanning a bigger or smaller grid.
Tip: New to Sudoku? Start with 4×4 or 6×6 on Easy to learn the rule with almost no risk of getting lost, then work your way up to 9×9 and beyond.
Sudoku variants FAQ
What is a 4x4 Sudoku?
A 4x4 Sudoku uses a 4-by-4 grid split into four 2x2 boxes, filled with the numbers 1 to 4. It follows the same rule as classic Sudoku — no repeats in any row, column or box — just on a much smaller grid, which makes it a fast, gentle introduction for kids or beginners.
What is a 6x6 Sudoku?
A 6x6 Sudoku uses a 6-by-6 grid with the numbers 1 to 6, split into six 3x2 boxes. It's a step up from 4x4 and a step down from the classic 9x9, good for building speed and confidence.
What is a 12x12 Sudoku?
A 12x12 Sudoku uses the numbers 1 to 9 plus the letters A, B and C, split into twelve 4x3 boxes. It's a genuinely large puzzle that takes considerably longer to solve than a classic 9x9 grid.
What is a 16x16 Sudoku?
A 16x16 Sudoku, sometimes called giant Sudoku, uses the numbers 1 to 9 plus the letters A through G, split into sixteen 4x4 boxes. It's the largest common Sudoku variant and a serious challenge even for experienced solvers.
Are all Sudoku variants solved the same way?
Yes. Every size follows the identical rule — each row, column and box contains every symbol exactly once — and every technique that works on a 9x9 grid works exactly the same way on 4x4, 6x6, 12x12 and 16x16.
Is Sudoku Variants free to play?
Yes. Every grid size and difficulty is free, generated fresh in your browser, with no sign-up and no limit on how many puzzles you play.
Prefer the classic grid? Play standard 9×9 Sudoku, or read our complete Sudoku guide.
Play Free Sudoku, Any Size
From mini 4×4 to giant 16×16, every puzzle is free and generated instantly.