Last Updated on January 7, 2024 by Gamesver Team and JC Franco
People who’ve never played Sudoku may wonder what it is about the little grid and numbers puzzle game that gets others so immersed. We have all met at least one die-hard Sudoku fan in our lives, and you may have wondered how one becomes such an avid aficionado of Sudoku. If you were always curious about it but never dared to ask them directly, we hope our article will provide some insight into the heart and head of a Sudoku fun.
If you are considering whether or not you should give Sudoku a try, consider the following fifteen reasons.
1. It improves memory.
This isn’t just us saying that – Cambridge University actually conducted a study on the subject and proved that Sudoku improves the memory capacity of our brains. Being certain you have actually locked your door is nice, and knowing all you had to do to stop stressing about it is play a little puzzle game is even nicer.
2. It improves abstract reasoning.
Sudoku is quite simple in its structure but infinitely varied with millions of possible combinations and a wide range of difficulty levels. Regardless, it’s all based on simple logical principles in the context of using numbers from one to nine to fill in the blank spaces based on deductive reasoning, while never repeating any numbers within a quadrant, a row, or a column.
Because of its versatility, you probably won’t encounter two identical Sudoku games in your life, so it’s improbable that you will ever just ‘remember’ the solution for a puzzle. Sudoku forces you to constantly ask the basic question all the while you are playing it. What? Where? How? Why? While these are very basic questions, having your brain ask them regularly encourages it to go deeper when considering an item or a concept. It helps develop abstract reasoning, which helps you examine things in more depth.
3. It improves data memorizing ability.
While Sudoku is a numbers game, it does not actually require you to have any real mathematical or scientific knowledge in order to play it. However, playing Sudoku trains your brain to memorize abstract symbols easier and faster, which can be greatly useful in mathematics, physics, or chemistry so you can understand and advance in these fields better.
4. It improves analytical skills.
To be an expert Sudoku player, you need to be able to quickly scan the entire grid and look for patterns and opportunities within it. This means that dedicated Sudoku players eventually develop admirably well-organized and methodical minds. Training your brain in these areas is highly beneficial in all areas of life.
5. It improves cognitive skills.
Sudoku engages several cognitive skills such as memory, matching, pattern recognition, and problem-solving. It’s a simple game that engages and improves a complex web of thinking patterns all at once. It fires several different areas of your brain and forces them to focus on a ‘single’ thing, the game of Sudoku, thus promoting their adequate application while simultaneously nourishing their interconnections.
In other words, as you focus on utilizing your resources (the grid and numbers) in the most efficient way possible, as dictated by the structure of the game, your brain does the same thing with its own information storage.
6. It trains your patience and focus.
Sudoku is a highly involved and immersive game. Once you pick it up, you can sit in a single spot and play for hours, playing puzzle after puzzle. While this is not something we would recommend if you have other, more important things to attend to, it can be a great solution for those who suffer from a deficient attention span.
Sudoku can quickly and easily engage almost anyone, and soon they will find that time has passed rather quickly without them batting an eye. This will inspire their confidence and patience to dedicate more of their attention to other things as well.
7. It can help manage your anxiety.
If you have anxiety, you will find that Sudoku can be quite helpful in this regard. It has a simple structure, a clear set of expectations, and engages both your mind and hands at the same time. This can help bring your focus away from other things and get you immersed in the game.
Sudoku can provide an easy and healthy outlet for anxious feelings bringing you into somewhat of a meditative state that can be quite soothing and level you out.
8. It’s good for your brain.
Studies have shown that puzzle games like Sudoku promote and nourish brain health. They exercise our vital functions, agility, and long-term information storage, all of which are essential for lowering the risk of Alzheimer’s and Dementia. It’s also been shown that people already suffering from these conditions experience slight temporary improvements when allowed to engage in puzzle games.
9. It can boost your IQ or help you stay sharp.
Sudoku has continual, long-term effects on your brain. Each puzzle is unique, and they vary in difficulty, so every time you play a game of Sudoku, you need to find a solution all over again; you can’t just ‘remember’ how to solve it.
Studies have shown that people who are better at Sudoku tend to have higher IQ, but science has also demonstrated that IQ is fluid – it changes throughout your life depending on various external factors. This means that engaging in certain activities, such as playing Sudoku, can help improve your IQ.
10. It can boost your confidence.
Human brains love solving problems which is why they have an in-built reward system that releases dopamine when problem-solving conditions are met. Each time you successfully finish a Sudoku puzzle, you get a little bit of this temporary boost. However, Sudoku can also have a long-term positive effect in this regard, as the more you play and the better you get at the game, the greater sense of accomplishment that can improve your overall confidence and contentment.
11. It’s a welcome off-screen time.
While there are numerous Sudoku apps, most people still prefer to use newspapers or collection books to play Sudoku. If you want to engage in something fun that doesn’t require you to keep your eyes glued to a screen, Sudoku may just be the solution for you. Once you figure it out and start having fun with it, you will likely prefer it to show binges and other electronic-dependent entertainment.
12. It’s good for your academic development.
Sudoku is healthy for a variety of skills and traits that are highly useful in academia. So, playing Sudoku, especially from an earlier age, can improve your potential for success without you even realizing it.
13. It’s for everyone.
Anyone can play Sudoku regardless of their age, previous experience, and education. The game has very clearly set expectations that anyone can get their head around quickly enough to start having real fun with it.
14. Universal benefits.
Sudoku is a cheap, accessible, low-entry game that anyone can get their hands on. Its numerous benefits can help a wide range of people: Children, students, people of all ages and with various mental conditions, healthy individuals who improve or nourish their mental health. There is no individual, regardless of their age, mental health, and needs, who wouldn’t benefit from at least some of these improvements.
15. It’s fun.
Sudoku is fun. While ‘fun’ is subjective, when it comes to activities like Sudoku, the more someone plays, the better they get at it, and the more they enjoy it. You are unlikely to meet a person who’s played enough Sudoku to get good at it without falling in love with it along the way.
Sudoku may seem a complex mathematics game that can deter new and inexperienced players, but really it’s just a logic-based game that is much easier than most people think once they know what to do. If you have patience, allow yourself some time to get familiar with it, and we can promise you will have found your new favorite hobby.
In closing
We all know how vital it is to nourish our bodies, but we often forget to nourish our minds. The health and agility of our brain are no less important than our physical fortitude. If you want to do good things for your brain, Sudoku may be just the ‘food for thought’ that you need. It’s never too late to start; Sudoku welcomes everyone.
This article was co-authored by our team of in-house and freelance writers, and reviewed by our editors, who enjoy sharing their knowledge about their favorite games with others!
JC Franco
JC Franco serves as a New York-based editor for Gamesver. His interest for board games centers around chess, a pursuit he began in elementary school at the age of 9. Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Business from Mercyhurst University, JC brings a blend of business acumen and creative insight to his role. Beyond his editorial endeavors, he is a certified USPTA professional, imparting his knowledge in tennis to enthusiasts across the New York City Metropolitan area.