Sudoku has been the world’s most popular number puzzle for many years. However, Sudoku’s popularity is not just down to the fact that it is fun, although that does certainly play a role. There are also many other reasons to play Sudoku.
The popular number puzzle has even been scientifically studied. The focus is primarily on its positive effects on the brain. But Sudoku also has other obvious advantages. In this article, I will list 10 reasons why Sudoku is such a popular hobby.
10 Benefits of Sudoku
Sudoku trains the brain
Sudoku trains and activates different regions of the brain and can thus ensure that our brain performs better in other activities as well (source). Among other things, solving Sudoku is associated with better working memory (see benefit 8).
In addition, playing Sudoku activates the prefrontal cortex (source). This region of the brain is quite complex and, among other things, enables us to focus our concentration on something, exercise self-control and impulse control, and plan for the future more effectively. Activating the prefrontal cortex can also have a positive effect on various psychological problems.
Many levels of difficulty provide variety
Developers of Sudoku puzzles can vary the levels of difficulty greatly. As a result, there are extremely easy puzzles where you only have to enter a few numbers, as well as extremely difficult Sudoku puzzles that only a few players in the world can solve. And, of course, there is everything in between, from advanced beginners to experienced players to very good Sudoku players.
Due to this variety in the puzzles, it is hard to get bored. Sudoku is a number puzzle that can never really be “too difficult” or “too easy.” We just have to find the puzzles that suit our level.
Sudoku promotes concentration
In point 1 on the benefits of Sudoku, we have already seen that playing Sudoku activates the prefrontal cortex. This is important for concentration, among other things.
When solving a Sudoku puzzle, we can concentrate fully on the puzzle for a while without being distracted by external factors. It is important that the puzzles are not too easy for our level. Puzzles that are too difficult are also counterproductive, as we quickly lose motivation. However, with the right level of difficulty, we have a good opportunity to train our concentration.
Some people can switch off so completely when playing Sudoku that it is almost like a meditative exercise for them.
Can be played offline and without screens
There are Sudoku apps for smartphones and tablets, as well as numerous websites where you can play Sudoku online, and many Sudoku fans do indeed use these. However, there are also many ways to play Sudoku offline. Countless puzzle books and magazines ensure that we always have enough to keep us going.
This is also interesting for parents who don’t want their children to spend too much time in front of a screen. But it also has advantages for adults. Personally, I mainly play Sudoku with printed magazines or books. Since I spend almost the entire working day in front of a screen at work, I don’t want to have it in my free time as well. Sudoku is a great opportunity for a screen-free leisure activity.
Can boost self-confidence
Since there are puzzles for all levels of difficulty, a sense of achievement quickly sets in. Beginners quickly improve once they understand the rules and have solved their first simple Sudoku puzzles.
These feelings of achievement are important for boosting self-confidence. Even small things, such as making the bed in the morning, can make us feel like we have achieved something and make us feel better. Those who play Sudoku every day will have small successes every day. And when we look back and see how far we have come, it is also a very positive feeling.
Sudoku doesn’t cost much money.
Sudoku is not an expensive hobby, and unlike some other leisure activities, it doesn’t put much strain on your wallet. There are many websites where you can play Sudoku for free. The same applies to apps.
Puzzle books and magazines are often not particularly expensive and will last you several weeks or months. The price for a single Sudoku puzzle is often only a few cents (example: $11.99 for a book with 500 Sudoku puzzles works out at 2.4 cents per Sudoku puzzle). Perhaps you have a newspaper subscription that includes Sudoku puzzles. Then you get this as a bonus for the price you pay anyway.
You can play Sudoku anywhere
This point is also related to what I mentioned in point 4. You can play Sudoku both online and offline, on any electronic device or on paper. This makes it quite easy to play Sudoku on the go (for example, on the train).
If you like to play Sudoku on paper and on the go, I have created a little book called Sudoku for the pocket. The idea behind it is that it takes up very little space and is easy to carry around.
Sudoku can slow down brain aging
This point is closely related to reason no. 1. As we age, our working memory in particular declines. Working memory is where information that has just been absorbed is stored and processed for a short time. Under certain circumstances, this information is then transferred to long-term memory.
Working memory is very important for solving Sudoku puzzles. When we scan the grid, remember missing numbers in the short term, and then check adjacent rows, columns, or blocks for patterns, our working memory is working at full speed.
A study involving both younger and older people examined whether Sudoku affects working memory. It found that there is indeed a statistical correlation between better Sudoku solving skills and more efficient working memory. If older people play Sudoku regularly, they may be able to slow down the age-related decline in working memory.
The rules are easy to understand
The fact that the rules are so easy to understand makes Sudoku particularly attractive for beginners. For a standard 9×9 Sudoku puzzle, we can summarize the rules in a single sentence:
The numbers 1 to 9 must be entered into the grid in such a way that each of these numbers appears exactly once in each row, column, and 3×3 block.
This is very easy to understand. Other hobbies and leisure activities are much more difficult to grasp before we can even really get started. With Sudoku, even beginners can quickly solve their first puzzles and celebrate their successes.
Sudoku can help you relax
Many of us often feel stressed when we have a lot on our minds. Constant messages or phone calls can have a negative effect on our well-being.
Activities that allow you to switch off completely for a while are very good for relaxation. Sudoku is definitely one of them. As we have seen, we can also play it offline and therefore without distractions.
As we can see, there are several benefits to Sudoku that go beyond pure fun. The ten reasons to play Sudoku listed above are not even the only ones. I could probably have found five or ten more, but I didn’t want to make this article too long.