Almost. On ナンプレ, evil sits one step below extreme — the absolute top tier. Evil puzzles demand advanced techniques like X-Wing and Swordfish, while extreme adds even longer chains and sparser starting grids. If you can finish evil puzzles consistently, extreme is your next stop.
How long does an evil Sudoku take to solve?
Most experienced players need 20 to 45 minutes per puzzle. Solvers fluent in fish patterns and chains can finish in 12–15 minutes, while a first attempt can easily take over an hour. Speed comes from recognising patterns quickly, not from writing faster — expect your times to drop sharply after your first ten puzzles.
Can evil Sudoku be solved without guessing?
Yes. Every evil puzzle on this page has exactly one solution and a complete logical path to it. You never need to guess — but you do need advanced eliminations. If you feel forced to guess, there is almost always an X-Wing, Swordfish, or chain you have not spotted yet.
What techniques do I need for evil Sudoku?
Beyond singles and pairs, you should be comfortable with pointing pairs, hidden pairs, X-Wing, Swordfish, and simple XY-chains. Full pencil marks are essentially mandatory — evil puzzles are solved in the candidates, not in the cells.
Is evil Sudoku free to play here?
Yes — every puzzle is free, with no signup, no download, and unlimited new puzzles. Creating an account is optional and only needed if you want your times and scores saved to the leaderboard.