How to play Cute Paws Sudoku
- Know the rule. Every row, every column and every colored box holds each paw print of the level exactly once.
- Place a paw. Pick a print below the board, then tap the spot where it must be.
- Mark X. Pick X and tap, or drag across several spots, to mark where no print can hide. On levels 1 and 2 the X marks fill in by themselves, from level 3 they are up to you.
- Mind your hearts. Every mark is checked right away. A wrong paw or a wrong X costs one of your 3 hearts.
Stuck? Hint shows the reasoning behind the next move, for example "this box needs a cat paw and only one spot is left", and then makes the move for you. You get 3 hints per level.
100 levels, from easy to really hard
| Levels | Board | Paw prints |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 3 | 4×4 (boxes of 2×2), several quick boards per level | Cat |
| 4 to 15 | 6×6 (boxes of 2×3) | Cat |
| 16 to 27 | 6×6 | Cat and puppy |
| 28 to 41 | 9×9 (boxes of 3×3) | Cat |
| 42 to 83 | 9×9 | 2 to 6 prints: puppy, bunny, panda, fox and frog join |
| 84 to 100 | 9×9 | All 9 prints: a full Sudoku |
Each level is graded by a solver that thinks like a person: how many obvious moves you have at every step, and which techniques you need. Early levels need only a quick look, later ones ask for real Sudoku tricks such as locked candidates and pairs. You earn up to 3 stars per level, one for every heart you keep.
Tips for solving faster
- Cross out first. When a row already has its cat paw, every other spot in that row gets an X for the cat. Drag the X tool along it.
- Look for the last spot. A box, row or column that still needs a print but has only one free spot left gives you a sure move.
- Box to line. If inside one box a print can only sit in a single row, that print cannot be anywhere else in that row.
- One print at a time. With many friends on the board, follow one print across the whole grid before you switch to the next.
Daily puzzle and duels
Every day there is a new daily Cute Paws Sudoku: a fresh 9×9 board with cat and puppy prints, the same for everyone, with its own leaderboard and streak. You can also play a duel online or send a link to a friend: you both get the same board, the first to find every paw print wins, and a wrong mark locks your board for 8 seconds.
More logic puzzles
Ready for numbers? Try classic Sudoku. For a different kind of logic, clear the field in Minesweeper, or relax with Picture Puzzle.
