Sudoku (Süddeutsche Zeitung)
The Süddeutsche Zeitung's free daily sudoku in three levels.
Every day: Three dated sudokus a day on SZ Rätsel (leicht, mittelschwer, schwer), the same grids for every player, each with its own number in the archive. New puzzle: Once a day; the site does not state the time.
SZ Rätsel publishes three sudokus every day, easy, medium and hard, on dated and numbered pages. Unlike most of the section, the sudoku is free: the SZ describes it as the modern number classic, free in all difficulty levels. Past puzzles stay online by number.
About Sudoku (Süddeutsche Zeitung)
The Süddeutsche Zeitung's puzzle section, SZ Rätsel, mixes subscriber puzzles such as the crossword, Str8ts and Kestli with a few free ones, and the sudoku is among the free ones. Its page promises the modern number classic free of charge in all difficulty levels, with the strapline 1 bis 9: can you get it in order?
Each day has three grids, labelled leicht, mittelschwer and schwer. The puzzles are numbered: Sudoku 1 dates from 1 April 2025, and number 1648 is dated 2 October 2026, which fits three new grids a day since the start. Every player who opens a given date and level gets the same grid, and earlier numbers remain playable.
The rules are the usual ones: fill the 9x9 grid so that 1 to 9 appear once in every row, column and 3x3 box. The page keeps your progress, and a daily newsletter and WhatsApp channel remind you when new puzzles are up.
It suits sudoku players who want a free daily set in German with a clear step from easy to hard, and readers who want a taste of SZ Rätsel before subscribing.
How to play Sudoku (Süddeutsche Zeitung)
- Open Sudoku on SZ Rätsel and pick leicht, mittelschwer or schwer.
- Select an empty cell and enter a number from 1 to 9.
- Make sure every row, column and 3x3 box contains each number once.
- Use notes for cells with several candidates.
- Finish the grid, then try the next level or an earlier date.
Tips
- Warm up on leicht; it has the most given numbers.
- Scan each box for a number that fits in only one cell before writing notes.
- On schwer, fill in candidates early so you can spot pairs.
- Play older puzzles by number if you want more practice at one level.
Questions
Is the SZ sudoku free?
Yes. The SZ says the sudoku is free in all difficulty levels; most other SZ Rätsel puzzles need SZ Plus.
How many sudokus are there each day?
Three: leicht, mittelschwer and schwer.
Can I play older sudokus?
Yes. Each puzzle has a number, and earlier ones stay online.
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