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Samurai Sudoku - Free 5-Grid Overlapping Puzzle Game Online

Samurai Sudoku is the ultimate Sudoku challenge: five overlapping 9x9 grids arranged in a cross pattern on a 21x21 board. Each of the five grids follows standard Sudoku rules, and the overlapping 3x3 boxes must satisfy both grids simultaneously. With 369 active cells to fill, this is a true test of logic and patience. Three difficulty levels, generated in your browser.

How to Play Samurai Sudoku

Samurai Sudoku combines five standard 9x9 Sudoku grids into one massive puzzle. The grids overlap at the corners of the center grid, creating shared 3x3 boxes that must satisfy the rules of both grids. This interplay between grids makes Samurai Sudoku one of the most rewarding logic puzzles you can solve.

Whether you're stepping up from Classic Sudoku or already a Samurai veteran, our three difficulty levels — Easy, Medium, and Hard — ensure a satisfying challenge every time.

Basics

  • 1

    Understand the Layout

    Samurai Sudoku consists of five overlapping 9x9 grids arranged in a cross pattern. Each colored area represents one complete Sudoku grid.

    1
    1
    1
    2
    2
    2
    1
    1
    1
    2
    2
    2
    1
    1
    3
    2
    2
    3
    3
    3
    4
    4
    3
    5
    5
    4
    4
    4
    5
    5
    5
    4
    4
    4
    5
    5
    5
    Grid 1: Top-Left
    Grid 2: Top-Right
    Grid 3: Center
    Grid 4: Bottom-Left
    Grid 5: Bottom-Right
  • 2

    Follow Standard Sudoku Rules

    Each of the five 9x9 grids follows standard Sudoku rules. Every row, column, and 3x3 box within each grid must contain the numbers 1-9 exactly once.

    5
    3
    7
    6
    1
    9
    5
    9
    8
    6
    8
    6
    3
    4
    8
    3
    1
    7
    2
    6
    6
    2
    8
    4
    1
    9
    5
    8
    7
    9

    Each of the 5 sub-grids is a complete 9x9 Sudoku puzzle.

  • 3

    Respect the Overlapping Regions

    The four corner grids share 3x3 boxes with the center grid. Cells in these overlap zones must satisfy the rules of both grids simultaneously.

    These shared 3x3 boxes must satisfy rules of both adjacent grids.

    Solving overlap cells gives you information for two grids at once, creating a cascade of deductions.

  • 4

    Complete All Five Grids

    Fill in all 369 active cells correctly across all five grids to complete the puzzle. Use the overlap regions as bridges to propagate information between grids.

Tips & Strategies

Start with the Overlaps

The four overlap regions are where two grids share constraints. Solving cells in these zones gives you information for both grids at once, creating a cascade of deductions.

Work Grid by Grid

When you get stuck on one grid, switch to another. Progress in the overlap regions of one grid often unlocks cells in adjacent grids.

Use Pencil Marks Liberally

With 369 cells to track, notes mode is essential. Mark all candidates in overlap zones especially, where constraints from two grids narrow options quickly.

Leverage Cross-Grid Elimination

A number placed in an overlap cell eliminates that candidate from the row, column, and box of both grids it belongs to. This double elimination is a powerful solving technique unique to Samurai Sudoku.

Controls

Mouse / Trackpad

Click on any empty cell to select it, then click a number (1-9) to fill it in. Click the pencil icon to toggle notes mode, and use Clear to remove a number.

Touch Screen

Tap any empty cell to select it, then tap a number to place it. Tap the pencil icon to enable notes mode for marking possible candidates in each cell.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Samurai Sudoku?

Samurai Sudoku is a logic puzzle consisting of five overlapping 9x9 Sudoku grids arranged in a cross pattern on a 21x21 board. The four corner grids each share a 3x3 box with the center grid, and every grid must be solved following standard Sudoku rules. It's one of the most challenging and rewarding Sudoku variants.

How do the overlapping regions work?

Each corner grid (top-left, top-right, bottom-left, bottom-right) shares a 3x3 box with the center grid. Cells in these overlap zones belong to two grids simultaneously and must satisfy the row, column, and box constraints of both grids. This shared constraint is what makes Samurai Sudoku unique.

How many cells does a Samurai Sudoku have?

A Samurai Sudoku has 369 active cells on a 21x21 board. The five 9x9 grids would total 405 cells, but the four overlapping 3x3 regions (36 cells) are shared, resulting in 405 - 36 = 369 unique cells. The remaining cells on the 21x21 board are inactive gaps.

What do the difficulty levels mean?

Difficulty is determined by the number of pre-filled clues given at the start:

🌱

Easy

219 clues given

A gentle introduction

🌿

Medium

169 clues given

A solid challenge

🌳

Hard

129 clues given

For experienced solvers

Is my progress saved?

Yes, your current game progress is automatically saved in your browser's local storage. If you close the page and come back later, you can continue right where you left off. Your best times for each difficulty level are also saved.

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