What is 12×12 Sudoku?
12×12 Sudoku is a giant version of the puzzle you already know. The board has 12 rows and 12 columns — that is 144 squares in total — and you fill it with the digits 1 to 12 instead of 1 to 9. Lots of puzzle sites call this game "Super Sudoku" or "Giant Sudoku", but the rules are exactly the same wherever you find it.
The board is split into twelve boxes, each one 3 cells tall and 4 cells wide. Each row, each column and each of those twelve 3×4 boxes must contain every number from 1 to 12 with no repeats. If you have already played our classic 9×9 sudoku, you know the rules — there are just three more numbers to keep track of and a much bigger board to look at.
Because the grid is so much bigger, every move counts a little more than on a 9×9. A single placement can unlock five or six other cells in one go. That is why solving a 12×12 feels so satisfying once you get the hang of it.
How is 12×12 different from a normal sudoku?
On a normal 9×9 sudoku you only need the digits 1 to 9, and the boxes are perfect 3×3 squares. On a 12×12 you also need 10, 11 and 12 — and the boxes are taller-and-wider rectangles, 3 cells tall by 4 cells wide.
That is the only real difference. There are no extra rules and no hidden tricks. If you can read a row, a column and a 3×4 box, you can play 12×12 Sudoku.
- 🟪 Every row needs the numbers 1–12 with no repeats
- 🟦 Every column needs the numbers 1–12 with no repeats
- 🟧 Every 3×4 box needs the numbers 1–12 with no repeats
- 🔢 The pad shows all twelve number buttons in two tidy rows of six
The 3 simple rules
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One of each in every row
Every one of the twelve rows must contain the numbers 1 through 12 — no repeats.
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One of each in every column
Every one of the twelve columns must contain the numbers 1 through 12 — no repeats.
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One of each in every 3×4 box
Each of the twelve boxes (three cells tall, four cells wide) must contain the numbers 1 through 12 — no repeats.
How to start a 12×12 puzzle
Big boards can feel scary at first. The trick is to NOT try to solve it all at once. Pick one box, one row or one column and finish what you can there before moving on. Little wins add up.
A great place to start is whichever box already has the most starter numbers. If a box has 8 or 9 numbers showing, the missing few are usually easy to find. Solve those first, then jump to the next-fullest box.
You can also look for "lonely" numbers — a number that is allowed in only one cell of a row, column or box. Those are forced moves, and they are everywhere on a 12×12 once you slow down and look.
Easy strategies for kids
- ✨ Start in the box with the most starter numbers
- 📐 Scan one number at a time — find every place a 1 could go, then 2, then 3…
- 🔢 Use the 78-sum trick on a nearly-full row, column or box
- ✏️ Tap Notes to pencil in the small "maybe" numbers
- 💡 Auto Notes fills the candidate numbers in for you on every empty cell
- 🧠 Take breaks — a fresh look spots clues your tired eyes missed
Brand new to sudoku? Do a few rounds of 4×4 sudoku first, then 6×6 sudoku, then graduate to classic 9×9 sudoku. Once 9×9 Easy feels routine, 12×12 is the perfect next step up.
Why kids love 12×12 Sudoku
- 🧠 Trains visual thinking — your eyes learn to scan a much bigger grid
- 🎨 The big colourful board feels like a real puzzle book on screen
- 🕵️ Detective brain — every placement points you at the next clue
- ⏱️ Slow, satisfying solves — perfect for a quiet afternoon
- 📱 Plays great on phones, tablets, Chromebooks and laptops
Ready for more?
Once Easy 12×12 Sudoku feels comfortable, try Medium 12×12 Sudoku. From there you can graduate to Hard 12×12 Sudoku, and finally take on Expert 12×12 Sudoku — our toughest super-sized puzzle.
Want a totally different brain workout? Try our Hyper Sudoku (classic sudoku with four extra mini-boxes), our X-Sudoku (sudoku with two big diagonals), our Killer Sudoku (sudoku with cage sums) or our Jigsaw Sudoku (classic rules, but the boxes are wiggly shapes).
Frequently asked questions
What age is 12×12 Sudoku good for?
Most kids enjoy 12×12 from about 9 years old, once they are comfortable with the classic 9×9 game. Younger kids should start with our 4×4 or 6×6 starter grids, then move to classic 9×9, and try the giant 12×12 when the smaller boards feel too quick.
Is 12×12 Sudoku harder than 9×9?
A bit, mostly because the board is bigger and there are three more numbers to keep track of. The rules and the kinds of clues are the same. Most kids who can finish a Medium 9×9 puzzle can finish an Easy 12×12 in about the same time.
Why are the boxes 3×4 instead of 3×3?
Because 12 is not a square number, the boxes can't be perfect squares. The closest thing to a square that fits 12 cells is a 3×4 rectangle (3 rows tall, 4 columns wide), so that is what every 12×12 sudoku uses.
Is 12×12 Sudoku the same as Super Sudoku?
Yes! "Super Sudoku" and "Giant Sudoku" are popular names for the same 12×12 puzzle. You will also see it called "Mega Sudoku" in some puzzle books, but the grid and the rules are identical.
How long does an Easy 12×12 take?
Most kids finish an Easy 12×12 in about 10 to 20 minutes. The board is big, so even an "easy" puzzle takes longer than an Easy 9×9 — that is part of the fun.
Can I play without making an account?
Yes! Every game on this site is free, with no signup, no email, and no ads in the way of the puzzle.
Does it save my progress?
Yes — your puzzle, notes and timer save automatically in your browser. Close the tab and come back later, it will still be there.
Try other sudoku games
Different rules, same friendly board. Pick a sibling puzzle to play next.