JustBeginning
Beginner's guide

So you're getting into sudoku and logic puzzles

Sudoku is one of the most portable hobbies there is: a cheap book, a sharp pencil, and a quiet seat is all you need. The puzzles scale from genuinely easy to genuinely hard, the tools stay simple, and the satisfaction of a completed grid never stops feeling good. Here's what to get first.

By Colin B. · Published June 7, 2026 · Last reviewed June 7, 2026
a person is holding a piece of paper with numbers on it

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The 60-second version

If you only buy 3 things to start:

  1. Will Shortz Presents Ferociously Fun Sudoku: 200 Easy Puzzles — Will Shortz's beginner sudoku: the clearest path from confused to consistently finishing grids.
  2. Pentel GraphGear 1000 Automatic Drafting Pencil 0.5mm — The mechanical pencil puzzle solvers eventually switch to. Fixed tip, consistent line, easy erase.
  3. Mensa Best Brain Benders: 100 Puzzles and Word Games — Mensa's mixed logic collection: branches you beyond sudoku into pure deductive reasoning.
Budget total
$12
Typical total
$35
A puzzle book and a mechanical pencil is all you need. Total startup cost is under $40, and the pencil lasts for years.

We earn commission on qualifying Amazon purchases — see our affiliate disclosure. Price tiers and budget totals shown above are editorial estimates; actual Amazon prices vary.

At a glance

Our top pick in each category

The fastest path through this guide — each best-starter pick by category. Scroll for the budget and upgrade alternatives.

CategoryTop pickPriceWhere to buy
Sudoku BooksSt. Martin's GriffinWill Shortz Presents Ferociously Fun Sudoku: 200 Easy Puzzles$ See on Amazon →
Writing ToolsPentelPentel GraphGear 1000 Automatic Drafting Pencil 0.5mm$$ See on Amazon →
Logic Puzzle CollectionsMensaMensa Best Brain Benders: 100 Puzzles and Word Games$ See on Amazon →
AccessoriesStaedtlerStaedtler Mars Plastic Eraser$ See on Amazon →
Reference & StrategyGrandmaster PuzzlesThe Art of Sudoku by Thomas Snyder$$ See on Amazon →
Before you buy anything

A few things worth knowing first

Start with easy puzzles, not hard ones. The numbers 1-9 in sudoku are just symbols — the whole game is constraint logic. Once you understand 'this cell must be a 6 because every other number already appears in this row, column, and box,' you have the foundation. Easy puzzles make that logic visible. Hard puzzles layer advanced techniques on top of it. Don't skip the foundation.

Don't use hint buttons. Every sudoku app and most websites offer hints. They'll get you out of jams but teach you nothing except dependence. Use pencil and paper instead: make a tentative mark, keep working, and erase if you're wrong. Getting yourself unstuck is exactly the skill you're building.

A mechanical pencil is worth the $10 upgrade. Pen-and-paper solving is more satisfying than a phone app for most people: no notifications, no dead battery, no algorithmic nudging. A mechanical pencil has a consistent line width, never dulls, and erases cleanly. You'll appreciate it after the first puzzle where you need to back out three wrong marks.

The gear

What you actually need

a close up of a number line on a sheet of paper

Photo by Bozhin Karaivanov on Unsplash

Sudoku Books

The puzzle book is the whole hobby. Will Shortz is the go-to name: his collections use clean, consistently graded puzzles that teach technique without unfair shortcuts. Start with an easy volume (200+ puzzles) before the hard one — the difficulty gap between 'easy' and 'hard' sudoku is real, not just marketing. Work through an entire book before buying the next one; pattern recognition compounds with volume.

Sudoku Books — what's the difference?

A few common shapes, each making a different trade.

Easy / Beginner

Solvable with naked singles alone. The right start for everyone.

Avg. solve time
10-20 min
Technique needed
Naked singles only

Best for First-time solvers, casual daily habit, building confidence

Tradeoff Stops being challenging once you have ~50 puzzles under your belt

↓ See our pick
Medium / Intermediate

Requires hidden singles and basic pairs. The daily sweet spot.

Avg. solve time
20-40 min
Technique needed
Hidden singles, pairs

Best for Solvers who've finished an easy book and want real challenge

Tradeoff Requires technique lookup before you can make consistent progress

↓ See our pick
Hard / Expert

Demands X-wing, swordfish, and coloring. Not for beginners.

Avg. solve time
45-90 min
Technique needed
X-wing, swordfish, chains

Best for Experienced solvers who've exhausted medium-difficulty books

Tradeoff Requires dedicated study; struggling without techniques isn't fun

↓ See our pick
Best starter
St. Martin's Griffin

Will Shortz Presents Ferociously Fun Sudoku: 200 Easy Puzzles

$

Will Shortz has edited the NYT crossword since 1993 and his sudoku collections are graded with the same care. The easy volumes start with genuinely manageable puzzles and ramp gradually — finish this book and you'll have the foundations for any sudoku collection. Buy this before the hard volume; the difficulty gap is bigger than it looks.

What we like

  • Will Shortz grading is the most reliable difficulty calibration in the genre
  • 200 puzzles per book: months of material at one puzzle a day
  • Compact paperback fits in a bag, pocket, or nightstand drawer

What to know

  • No technique explanations; you'll need to look up strategies online
  • Paperback binding creases under heavy daily use
See on Amazon →
Budget pick
Kappa Books Publishers

Sudoku Collection Puzzle Book

$

500+ puzzles for under $8. The grading is less precise than Will Shortz but the volume is the point: the more grids you complete, the faster pattern recognition develops. Good for travel, or for the pile on your coffee table you chip away at slowly. When you just want more puzzles without overthinking the brand.

What we like

  • 500+ puzzles per volume: the best pure volume-per-dollar in the category
  • Large print format, easier to work with than some compact editions

What to know

  • Difficulty grading is inconsistent; occasional 'easy' puzzles that aren't
  • Paper quality is thin — pencil marks show through to the next page
See on Amazon →
Upgrade pick
St. Martin's Griffin

Will Shortz Presents Hard Sudoku Volume 1: 200 Challenging Puzzles

$

When easy puzzles start finishing in under 10 minutes, the hard volumes introduce techniques that actually require work: X-wing, swordfish, naked pairs. Not gimmick-hard — legitimately challenging. Expect to spend 30-60 minutes per puzzle. Complete an easy book first; jumping to hard too early is just frustrating.

What we like

  • Correctly hard: requires real technique, not just more patience
  • Same reliable Will Shortz grading, now at the difficult end

What to know

  • Requires technique knowledge easy books don't teach — do your homework
  • Not for beginners; start with easy volumes and work up
See on Amazon →
Specialty pick
Clarity Media

Samurai Sudoku: 100 Samurai Sudoku Puzzles

$

Five overlapping 9x9 grids sharing corner cells, requiring you to track multiple constraint sets simultaneously. Not for beginners, but one of the most interesting format variants once you've finished hundreds of standard grids. Samurai sudoku is harder than the hardest regular sudoku because you can't solve any one grid in isolation.

What we like

  • Format variant that genuinely changes how you approach constraint logic
  • Keeps experienced solvers challenged after regular sudoku becomes routine

What to know

  • Steep learning curve even for experienced sudoku solvers
  • Long time commitment per puzzle; not for casual 20-minute sessions
See on Amazon →

Writing Tools

The puzzle community has strong pencil opinions. Mechanical pencils win because the line width stays consistent and you never need to sharpen. A 0.5mm lead makes small correction marks easy to read, and the tip precision is genuinely better for working in tight grid cells. Standard No. 2 pencils work but dull, smear, and make erase marks messy. The upgrade to a mechanical pencil is $10-20 and lasts for years.

Best starter
Pentel

Pentel GraphGear 1000 Automatic Drafting Pencil 0.5mm

$$

The mechanical pencil that serious puzzle solvers eventually land on. Fixed 0.5mm tip means no constant rotating or dulling, the grip is comfortable for long sessions, and it writes with controlled pressure that makes erasing clean. Sounds like overkill for a puzzle hobby; it's actually a $20 investment that lasts years and never makes you wish you'd spent more.

What we like

  • Fixed 0.5mm tip never dulls, consistent line width every time
  • Metal grip and barrel lasts for years; not a use-and-discard pencil
  • Retractable tip protects pocket and bag without a cap to lose

What to know

  • Tip mechanism can jam under hard pressure; use normal writing force
  • Heavier than cheap plastic pencils; takes a session to adjust
See on Amazon →
Budget pick
Zebra

Zebra M-301 Stainless Steel Mechanical Pencil 0.5mm

$

Under $5, writes cleanly, and the stainless steel barrel means it won't snap like a cheap plastic pencil. The 0.5mm lead is the right width for puzzle grids. Not as refined as the GraphGear — the tip isn't retractable — but for a first mechanical pencil, this is the honest choice before you're sure you want to spend more.

What we like

  • Under $5 with the same 0.5mm line width as premium pencils
  • Stainless steel barrel survives bag and pocket without breaking

What to know

  • Non-retractable tip means it needs a cap, which you'll lose
  • Grip section less comfortable than the GraphGear for 60+ minute sessions
See on Amazon →
Upgrade pick
Rotring

Rotring 600 Mechanical Pencil 0.5mm

$$$

The machinist's mechanical pencil. Full brass body, precise weight balance, and a knurled grip that doesn't shift during long sessions. Noticeably better than the GraphGear for people who solve an hour a day. The price ($35-45) reflects what it is: a tool you'll still be using in ten years.

What we like

  • Brass barrel and balanced weight make it the best long-session pencil
  • Knurled grip never slips regardless of how long you've been writing

What to know

  • Heavier than most pencils; takes adjustment if you're used to light tools
  • Overkill for casual solvers — start with the GraphGear first
See on Amazon →
A pencil sitting on top of a piece of paper next to a ruler

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Logic Puzzle Collections

Once you've solved a few hundred sudoku, variety is the natural next step. Nonograms (also called Picross or Griddlers) use number clues to fill in grid cells that reveal pixel-art images — satisfying in a completely different way from sudoku. Kakuro is like a crossword where the fills are numbers that sum to the clue. Mensa-style logic puzzles ditch the grid entirely and test deductive reasoning directly. All use the same constraint-logic muscles as sudoku; one variety collection is a natural companion.

Best starter
Mensa

Mensa Best Brain Benders: 100 Puzzles and Word Games

$

The Mensa logic collections mix deductive reasoning, sequence puzzles, and grid logic in ways that exercise a different part of the brain than sudoku. Good for when sudoku starts to feel mechanical. These puzzles don't have a fixed algorithm — each one asks you to reason from scratch, which is harder and more interesting than applying a memorized technique.

What we like

  • Mixed puzzle types expose you to logical reasoning beyond sudoku's grid
  • Difficulty calibrated by Mensa; challenges without being arbitrary

What to know

  • Each puzzle type has rules to learn; more upfront overhead than sudoku
  • Smaller total volume than sudoku omnibus books
See on Amazon →
Budget pick
Clarity Media

Hanjie Puzzle Book for Adults: 50 Fun Puzzles with Solutions

$

Hanjie is the UK name for nonograms (also called Picross) — row and column number sequences that you fill into a grid to reveal a pixel-art image when solved. The constraint logic is identical to sudoku, but the payoff is visual. Great for variety days when sudoku feels repetitive. Once you finish one book, you'll be comfortable with the format for life.

What we like

  • Visual payoff when solved makes nonograms uniquely satisfying to finish
  • Constraint logic transfers directly from sudoku; shorter learning curve

What to know

  • Large puzzles take 60-90 minutes — plan accordingly
  • Black-and-white grid can be hard to read in low light
See on Amazon →
Specialty pick
Clarity Media

Kakuro: 100 Kakuro Puzzles in a Range of Sizes

$

Kakuro looks like a crossword where every answer is a sequence of digits that sums to a clue number. It blends sudoku's constraint logic with the structure of a crossword grid. Harder to learn than sudoku but deeply satisfying once the approach clicks. This is the natural third puzzle type after you've mastered sudoku and nonograms.

What we like

  • Blends crossword structure with sudoku logic for a fresh challenge
  • Combination-sum constraints create a unique solving feel

What to know

  • Steep learning curve for the first 10 puzzles before rules feel natural
  • Requires a number-combinations reference until you memorize common sums
See on Amazon →

Accessories

You can solve sudoku with no accessories at all. The items that actually improve the experience: an eraser that doesn't smear or leave crumbs in your book's spine, a portable book stand if you solve at a desk (your neck over an hour of looking down will notice), and a timer if you want concrete feedback on your improving speed. Total cost under $40 for all three — none of it requires replacing.

Best starter
Staedtler

Staedtler Mars Plastic Eraser

$

The go-to eraser for puzzle solvers. Erases graphite cleanly without smearing and leaves no pink residue in book spines or grid cells. Puzzle erasing is different from school erasing — you do it repeatedly in tight spaces, so a sharp-edged eraser that holds its shape matters more than it seems.

What we like

  • Erases cleanly in tight grid cells without smearing neighboring marks
  • Square edge holds its shape for precision erasing — doesn't round off

What to know

  • Wears down faster than larger erasers; buy the multipack
  • Slightly harder than soft vinyl erasers; needs firm but not heavy pressure
See on Amazon →
Specialty pick
Unbranded

Adjustable Foldable Book Stand with Page Clips

$$

If you solve at a desk, a book stand keeps your puzzle book upright and tilted toward you, which is dramatically more comfortable for sessions over 30 minutes. Your neck and shoulders notice the difference fast. Sturdy enough to hold paperback puzzle books flat without them curling closed, and it folds flat for storage.

What we like

  • Keeps puzzle books upright and tilted — solves neck fatigue at a desk
  • Folds flat and travels well in a bag

What to know

  • Overkill for casual solvers; skip it if you're lying on a couch
  • Arm width varies by model; confirm it holds your book format before buying
See on Amazon →
Budget pick
Fringoo

Pencil Zipper Pouch

$

A simple pencil pouch to keep your mechanical pencil, erasers, and spare lead together. Not essential, but once you have a $20 GraphGear you'll want to stop chasing it around your bag. Any compact zipper pouch works; this one is durable and slim enough to travel in a notebook bag without adding bulk.

What we like

  • Keeps pencil, erasers, and spare leads together in your bag
  • Slim enough not to add noticeable bulk to a notebook bag

What to know

  • Not necessary until you have a pencil worth protecting
  • Canvas versions wear at the zipper faster than nylon
See on Amazon →

Reference & Strategy

Most beginner sudoku books don't teach you how to solve puzzles — they just give you puzzles. A good technique reference fills that gap. You don't need one until you've completed 50+ easy puzzles and started hitting walls on medium difficulty; at that point, learning 3-4 named techniques unlocks hundreds of puzzles that would otherwise feel impossible. One strategy book covers the entire skill ladder from beginner to expert.

Best starter
Grandmaster Puzzles

The Art of Sudoku by Thomas Snyder

$$

Thomas Snyder is a three-time World Sudoku Champion. His approach book lays out solving techniques from naked singles to extreme strategies in a clean progression, with worked examples for each one. Better than YouTube tutorials because the reasoning is explained, not just demonstrated. One reference that covers the whole ladder.

What we like

  • Written by a three-time world champion; every technique is field-tested
  • Worked examples show the reasoning, not just the solution

What to know

  • Not a puzzle collection; read alongside a sudoku book, not instead
  • Intermediate/advanced techniques assume you've finished easy books first
See on Amazon →
Specialty pick
Independently published

How to Solve Sudoku: A Step-by-Step Guide

$

A shorter, cheaper alternative to a full technique book. Covers the core techniques (naked singles, hidden singles, naked pairs, pointing pairs) in a beginner-friendly format without assuming prior puzzle experience. Good if you want to understand why you're stuck without committing to a full strategy manual.

What we like

  • Short and focused: covers essential techniques without overwhelming depth
  • Beginner-friendly language; no assumed puzzle knowledge

What to know

  • Doesn't cover advanced techniques; you'll need a fuller reference later
  • Independently published; production quality varies by edition
See on Amazon →
Going deeper

Your first month of sudoku

Sudoku isn't hard to start — pick up a book and go. But there's a specific skill ladder, with predictable walls and predictable breakthroughs, and knowing what's coming makes the first month a lot less frustrating.

Read the guide →
Save your money

What you don't need yet

Beginners get pressured to buy a lot of stuff that doesn't help them play better. Here's what we'd skip on day one.

  • Sudoku solver apps — They'll get you out of jams, but the hint button teaches nothing except dependence. Learn on paper first; the app becomes useful for checking your logic once you're experienced.
  • Hard or expert puzzle books before finishing an easy one — The jump from easy to hard sudoku requires specific techniques you can't discover by struggling. Complete an easy book first, then a medium one. The difficulty gap is real.
  • Specialty pencil cases and organizers — A simple zipper pouch or pencil holder is enough. Wait until you know you'll be solving daily before investing in a dedicated puzzle kit.
  • Speed-solving timers before you can reliably finish puzzles — Timing your solve adds pressure before it adds feedback. Get consistent at finishing first; then timing helps you track improvement.
  • Competition entry in year one — The World Sudoku Championship and regional events are genuinely fun, but the community timing apps and casual Discord challenges are a better starting point while you're still learning techniques.
First week

Your first seven days

A short, real plan to get from gear-on-doorstep to actually playing.

  1. Order a beginner sudoku book — the Will Shortz Easy volume is the right start. · Buy
  2. Order a mechanical pencil. The Pentel GraphGear 1000 is the puzzle solver's standard. · Buy
  3. Learn one technique: naked singles. Search 'naked singles sudoku' and watch the first 5-minute video. That one technique solves most easy puzzles. · Learn
  4. Solve your first puzzle without looking anything up. Even if you're stuck for 20 minutes. · Action
  5. Set a daily slot: 20-30 minutes, same time, same spot. Sudoku is a habit hobby — consistency beats marathon sessions. · Action
  6. Finish the whole book before buying another. Resist the urge to buy a variety pack on day three. · Action
FAQ

Common questions

Do I need to be good at math to solve sudoku?

No. The numbers 1-9 in sudoku are just symbols — you're never adding or multiplying. Replace them with letters or shapes and the puzzle works identically. Sudoku is pure logic, not arithmetic.

What's the actual difference between easy and hard sudoku?

Easy puzzles can be solved by finding cells where only one number is possible (called 'naked singles'). Hard puzzles require chains of logic where no single cell is obvious — you have to eliminate possibilities across multiple rows, columns, and boxes simultaneously. It's a qualitative leap, not just a quantitative one.

What are nonograms and how are they different from sudoku?

Nonograms (also called Picross or Griddlers) give you number clues for each row and column that tell you how many consecutive cells to fill in — and in what runs. When you solve the grid, a pixel-art image appears. The underlying constraint logic is similar to sudoku, but the payoff is visual rather than numerical.

How long should a sudoku puzzle take me?

Easy puzzles: 10-20 minutes for beginners, 3-5 minutes once experienced. Medium: 20-40 minutes. Hard: 45-90 minutes. These are rough benchmarks; solving speed improves quickly over the first 50 puzzles.

Is it okay to guess in sudoku?

Every valid sudoku has exactly one solution reachable by pure logic. Guessing is technically valid but teaches you nothing and can require lots of backtracking. If you're stuck, look up the technique that applies rather than guessing. Guessing is a crutch that prevents skill development.

Are there sudoku competitions?

Yes — the World Sudoku Championship is held annually and has national qualifying rounds. Cracking the Cryptic on YouTube covers competition-level puzzles if you want to watch before you enter. For casual competition, the Sudoku.com app has speed-solving leaderboards.

What's a good daily puzzle habit?

One puzzle a day, same time, no screen. Most serious solvers do it first thing in the morning or before bed. The NYT sudoku is a good daily format once you're past beginner level — it scales from easy Monday to hard Sunday, the same model as their crossword.

Going further

Where to next

Related hobbies

Browse by category

Authoritative sources

  • Cracking the Cryptic (YouTube) — The most popular puzzle channel on the internet. Mark Goodliffe and Simon Anthony solve everything from standard sudoku to bizarre variant puzzles. Excellent viewing once you know the basics; their enthusiasm is contagious.
  • Sudopedia — The definitive technique reference. Every named sudoku strategy, indexed by difficulty, with diagrams and worked examples. Bookmark this: when you're stuck on a puzzle and don't know why, this is where you find the name of the technique you need.
  • NYT Games — Sudoku — A new puzzle every day at five difficulty levels. The de facto daily standard for most solvers. Free tier includes the easy puzzle; subscriber access unlocks hard and expert.
  • r/sudoku — Active community for technique help and puzzle sharing. The wiki has a solid beginner guide and technique index. Post a photo when you're genuinely stuck — the community will explain the next step without spoiling the solution.
  • Logic Masters Germany — The main hub for competition-level puzzles and variant sudoku. More advanced than you need at the start, but worth knowing about when you've finished the basic books and want to see how deep the rabbit hole goes.
  • Grandmaster Puzzles — Puzzles and books by world champions, including Thomas Snyder. Quality is extremely high; these are not mass-market books. Subscribe to the daily puzzle newsletter when you're confident in medium-hard sudoku.

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