Killer Sudoku is 9×9 Sudoku with cages whose digits sum to a target. Also known as Sumdoku, Samunamupure. If you have played classic Sudoku, most of the rules will already be familiar - this guide focuses on the variant-specific rule, common edge cases, and the small details that trip up new solvers.
Killer Sudoku keeps every rule of classic Sudoku intact. The grid contains 81 cells arranged in nine rows, nine columns, and nine 3×3 boxes. Each row must contain the digits 1 through 9 exactly once. Each column must contain the digits 1 through 9 exactly once. Each 3×3 box must contain the digits 1 through 9 exactly once.
If you can solve a classic Sudoku, you already know two-thirds of the Killer Sudoku rules. The variant adds one extra constraint on top of this foundation - the rest is identical.
The defining rule of Killer Sudoku is that every cage of cells (marked by dashed lines) must sum to the target shown in its corner, with no repeated digits inside a cage. This single addition transforms the puzzle without changing the underlying grid or digit set. Once you internalize the extra rule, every other classic Sudoku technique still applies.
The extra rule must be respected at all times. A digit placement that satisfies the row, column, and box rules but violates the variant constraint is still invalid. Always verify all four constraints when committing a number.
Imagine an empty cell. In classic Sudoku, you find the cell's allowed digits by eliminating any digit already present in the cell's row, column, and 3×3 box. In Killer Sudoku, you do the same - then apply the variant rule as an additional filter. If the variant rule eliminates more candidates, your cell is more constrained than it would have been in classic Sudoku.
This compounding of constraints is exactly what makes Killer Sudoku both fascinating and tractable: there are more rules, but they create more deductions, so puzzles often have similar overall difficulty to classic Sudoku.
New solvers often miss the variant rule on the very first move. The most common mistake is treating Killer Sudoku like classic Sudoku and only checking the row/column/box constraint. Train yourself to verify the variant rule on every placement until it becomes automatic.
Another common confusion is around uniqueness. A well-formed Killer Sudoku puzzle has exactly one solution achievable through pure logic. If you find yourself reaching for trial-and-error, you have probably missed an application of either a classic technique or the variant-specific rule.
Compared to classic Sudoku, Killer Sudoku adds exactly one new rule but otherwise keeps everything the same. The difficulty range is similar - easy through extreme - but the path to the solution is different. Classic Sudoku techniques like Hidden Singles, Naked Pairs, and Pointing Pairs all still apply. Variant-specific techniques (covered in our tips guide) build on top of the classic toolkit.
Killer Sudoku adds one extra rule on top of classic Sudoku: every cage of cells (marked by dashed lines) must sum to the target shown in its corner, with no repeated digits inside a cage. Everything else (row, column, and 3×3 box uniqueness) stays the same.
Yes - all standard rules apply. The variant rule is layered on top, not a replacement. Every digit must satisfy the classic constraints AND the variant rule.
Not necessarily. Difficulty depends on the puzzle, not the variant. The extra rule often creates more deductions, which can offset the added complexity.
Yes - a properly constructed Killer Sudoku puzzle has exactly one solution reachable through pure logic. If a puzzle requires guessing, it is poorly constructed.
Most general Sudoku apps do not support Killer Sudoku. You typically need a variant-specific app or website that can display the extra constraints visually.
Many puzzle sites and apps offer Killer Sudoku - see our Killer Sudoku overview page for resources, books, and printable options.
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