Mini Sudoku: How to Play 4x4 and 6x6 Grids
What is mini sudoku?
Mini sudoku is a smaller version of standard 9x9 sudoku. The 4x4 version uses numbers 1-4 with four 2x2 boxes. The 6x6 version uses numbers 1-6 with six 2x3 boxes. Same logic as 9x9 -- just faster and easier to learn. Ideal for kids, beginners, and anyone building up to the full grid.
What Is Mini Sudoku?
Mini sudoku is any sudoku puzzle played on a grid smaller than the standard 9x9. The two most common sizes are 4x4 and 6x6.
The format was popularised by puzzle books as a gateway for younger or less experienced solvers. More recently, LinkedIn launched a daily Mini Sudoku game (in partnership with Nikoli, around August 2025), creating a new wave of players searching for rules and practice material. Whether you are picking up the puzzle for the first time or brushing up before the next LinkedIn daily, the rules are the same.
Mini sudoku is played by:
- Kids ages 5-8 learning numbers and logical thinking (4x4)
- Beginners of any age who find 9x9 overwhelming (start with 6x6)
- LinkedIn Mini Sudoku players who want to understand and improve
- Teachers introducing logic puzzles for K-Grade 4 classrooms (see our printable sudoku for teachers)
How to Play 4x4 Sudoku
The Grid
A 4x4 sudoku has 4 rows, 4 columns, and four 2x2 boxes. There are 16 cells in total. You fill every cell with a number from 1 to 4.
The Rules
- Each row must contain 1, 2, 3, and 4 -- with no repeats.
- Each column must contain 1, 2, 3, and 4 -- with no repeats.
- Each 2x2 box must contain 1, 2, 3, and 4 -- with no repeats.
Example: Partially Solved 4x4 Grid
The pre-filled numbers are your givens. The purple number shows where one answer can be found immediately -- that cell's row already has 3, its column already has 2, and its box already has 4, so the only number that fits is 1.
| 1 | 3 | ||
| 2 | 4 | ||
| 4 | 2 | ||
| 1 | 1 |
The purple 1 in the bottom-left cell is forced: its row has 3, its column has 2, its box has 4 -- only 1 fits.
Solving Tips for 4x4
- Start with the most-filled unit. Find whichever row, column, or box already has the most numbers. Fewer empty cells means fewer possibilities to consider.
- If three of four cells are filled, the answer is forced. You do not need to think -- the missing number is the only one that fits.
- Elimination: For each empty cell, check which numbers 1-4 already appear in its row, column, and 2x2 box. Remove them from consideration. If only one number remains, place it.
Who Is 4x4 Sudoku For?
4x4 sudoku is perfect for kids ages 5-8, first-time players of any age, and K-Grade 2 classroom activities. The grid is small enough to hold in working memory, and puzzles can be completed in under three minutes. It is also the ideal first step before moving on to sudoku for kids or eventually the full 9x9 grid.
How to Play 6x6 Sudoku
The Grid
A 6x6 sudoku has 6 rows, 6 columns, and six 2x3 boxes (2 rows tall, 3 columns wide). There are 36 cells in total. You fill every cell with a number from 1 to 6.
The Rules
- Each row must contain 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 -- with no repeats.
- Each column must contain 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 -- with no repeats.
- Each 2x3 box must contain 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 -- with no repeats.
Example: Partially Solved 6x6 Grid
The 2x3 boxes are separated by heavier borders. Pre-filled black numbers are your givens. Work through the empty cells using the rules above.
| 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 | ||
| 4 | 5 | 2 | 3 | ||
| 2 | 3 | 6 | 4 | ||
| 5 | 6 | 4 | 1 | ||
| 4 | 5 | 2 | 1 | ||
| 6 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
Heavy borders mark the six 2x3 boxes. Solve whichever row, column, or box has the most givens first.
Solving Tips for 6x6
- Same elimination logic as 4x4, applied to a larger grid. For each empty cell, cross off numbers 1-6 that already appear in its row, column, and 2x3 box.
- Crosshatching: Pick a target number (e.g. 3). Draw imaginary lines across every row and column that already contains a 3. Any cell crossed by those lines cannot be 3 -- helping you locate where 3 must go in each box.
- Naked singles: If only one number from 1-6 fits a given cell after checking all three constraints, it is a naked single. Place it immediately. Read our guide on how to play sudoku for more on this technique.
Who Is 6x6 Sudoku For?
6x6 sudoku suits kids ages 7-11 who have completed a few 4x4 puzzles, beginners who find 9x9 overwhelming, and LinkedIn Mini Sudoku players who want to sharpen their skills. The 6x6 format introduces crosshatching and naked singles in a manageable context -- exactly the techniques you need for the full 9x9. See also our guide to sudoku variants for an overview of other grid sizes and rule variations.
Mini Sudoku vs. Standard 9x9 Sudoku
All three formats share the same core rule set. The differences are in grid size, number range, and box structure.
Why Start with Mini Sudoku?
For anyone new to sudoku, starting small is the single best way to build confidence and internalize the logic. Here is why mini formats work so well as a learning path:
Faster feedback loop
A 4x4 solves in under 3 minutes. Completing a puzzle -- and the satisfaction that comes with it -- reinforces the habit far faster than spending 30 minutes on a 9x9.
Mistakes are easier to spot
With fewer cells, an error becomes visible quickly. On a 9x9 you can place a wrong number and not notice for many steps. On a 4x4, contradictions surface within a move or two.
Identical core logic
Elimination, crosshatching, and naked singles work exactly the same way in 4x4, 6x6, and 9x9. Skills transfer directly -- there is no relearning when you graduate to the full grid.
Less intimidating
Many people look at a 9x9 grid and feel overwhelmed before making a single move. A 4x4 or 6x6 removes that visual barrier -- the whole puzzle fits on one screen or a quarter of a page.
Once you can solve a 6x6 puzzle using elimination and crosshatching alone, you are ready for sudoku for beginners -- the next step toward the full 9x9 grid.
Free Mini Sudoku Printables
The fastest way to practice is with paper. Print a puzzle, solve it, check the answer, then print another. No app, no account, no signup required.
Printable Sudoku Puzzles
Free PDF packs at five difficulty levels, updated weekly. Easy level suits beginners stepping up from mini sudoku.
Browse free printable sudoku →Printable Sudoku for Teachers
Grade-mapped worksheet packs. The K-2 section recommends 4x4 mini grids as the classroom entry point.
Teacher worksheet packs →Sudoku for Kids
Parent and classroom guidance, with progression tips from 4x4 through 6x6 to the full 9x9 grid.
Sudoku for kids guide →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 4x4 and 6x6 sudoku?
4x4 sudoku uses a 2x2 box structure and numbers 1-4; it is the simplest grid format, ideal for ages 5-8. 6x6 sudoku uses a 2x3 box structure and numbers 1-6; it adds more strategic depth and suits ages 7-11 or anyone finding 9x9 overwhelming. Both follow the same core rule: no repeated numbers in any row, column, or box.
Is mini sudoku the same as LinkedIn Mini Sudoku?
LinkedIn's "Mini Sudoku" is a daily 6x6 puzzle game launched in partnership with Nikoli around August 2025. Traditional mini sudoku is any 4x4 or 6x6 format. The underlying rules are identical -- LinkedIn simply delivers a new 6x6 puzzle each day. If you want to improve at LinkedIn Mini Sudoku, the 6x6 rules and crosshatching technique above are exactly what you need.
What age can kids start playing 4x4 sudoku?
Around ages 5-7, once a child can reliably recognize and write numbers 1-4. It works well for K-Grade 2 classrooms as a quiet logic activity. Start with a pre-filled grid where only one cell is missing to build confidence before progressing to a full puzzle.
How long does it take to solve a mini sudoku?
A 4x4 puzzle takes a beginner 1-3 minutes. A 6x6 puzzle takes 3-8 minutes. Both are designed as quick daily brain exercises -- fast enough to complete in a spare moment, but still satisfying to finish.
Can mini sudoku help you get better at 9x9?
Yes. The core techniques -- elimination, crosshatching, naked singles -- are identical in 4x4, 6x6, and 9x9. Mini sudoku is the fastest way to build the pattern-recognition habit before moving to a full grid. Many beginners who struggle with 9x9 find that two weeks of daily mini sudoku makes the full grid feel approachable.
Where can I play mini sudoku online for free?
Download the Sudoku a Day app (free on iPhone) for beginner-friendly puzzles across all difficulty levels, or browse the free printable sudoku page for PDF puzzles you can print and solve offline. No account or signup is required.
Ready to Play?
Download the free app or print puzzles -- no account needed.