Sudoku is the latest puzzle craze to sweep the nation. If you search through various blogs and Sudoku game information sites, you will find that many people refer to this challenging game as the new Rubix Cube. If you grew up in the 80's it would be difficult to forget the six-sided and six colored square, but Sudoku is doing just that.

If you think that Sudoku is a new game you would be incorrect. In fact, it was created in 1979 and published in an American puzzle magazine. The game was created by Howard Garns, a former architect. The craze hit Japan in 1986 but did not take the center stage until 2005 when websites, puzzle books and even significant media coverage made Sudoku game a worldwide sensation.

If you conduct a web search for Sudoku game you will find it has a massive following. The Internet has become a perfect haven for those logically inspired sleuths dedicated to filling in the boxes and solving puzzles. There are tons of websites dedicated to the game. There are also contests where contestants can actually win money or prizes. Contests, however, usually have to be done in person because there are computer programs available that can solve Sudoku game puzzles in a snap.

Sudoku is actually an abbreviation of the Japanese phrase suuji wa dokushin ni kagiru. Translated, it means the digits remain single. Normally, an ordinary Sudoku game puzzle is a 9 x 9 grid divided into nine 3x3 subgroups. Some of the cells have numbers and clues in them. Others are empty. The goal of the game is to pencil in the missing numbers in a logical fashion, but remember, each number one through nine can be used only once.

The difficulty levels of Sudoku game are varied. Puzzles can be crafted to fit highly experienced players or pure novices. Even the very young can get in on playing Sudoku game. If you found yourself a fan of the Rubix Cube back in the 1980s there is a good chance the Sudoku game craze would be right up your analytical alley. Give it a try and who knows, you might get hooked!