What is Shape Sudoku?
Shape Sudoku (sometimes called Shapes Sudoku, Picture Sudoku or Symbol Sudoku) is sudoku played with six bright shapes instead of the digits 1–6. The rules are exactly the same — every row, column and box must contain each shape once — but you don’t need to read numbers to play. That makes it one of the friendliest sudoku puzzles on the whole site.
The board is 6×6, split into six rectangular boxes of 2×3 cells. Some squares start with a shape already drawn in (the "givens"), and your job is to fill in the rest using only logic. The six shapes are a circle, square, triangle, star, heart and diamond — easy to tell apart even for very young players, and each one wears a different colour to make spotting them even easier.
If your child has already played our 4×4 sudoku or 6×6 sudoku, the rules will feel familiar. The shape version just removes the reading step, so even pre-readers can join in. It also pairs nicely with Color Sudoku, which uses colour swatches in place of shapes.
The 3 super-simple rules
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Every row uses every shape
A row is a line going across the grid. Each of the six rows must contain all six shapes, with no repeats.
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Every column uses every shape
A column is a line going down the grid. Each of the six columns must also contain all six shapes, with no repeats.
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Every 2×3 box uses every shape
The board is split into six rectangular boxes — three across, two down. Each box must contain all six shapes once.
Meet the six shapes
- 🔴 **Circle** — a round red shape, always perfectly even on every side
- 🟧 **Square** — an orange four-sided shape with corners that all look the same
- 🔺 **Triangle** — a yellow shape with three pointy corners
- ⭐ **Star** — a green five-pointed star (count the points!)
- 💙 **Heart** — a blue heart shape, like in a love card
- 💜 **Diamond** — a purple diamond, like a square tilted onto one corner
How to play step by step
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Tap an empty square
The square highlights and shows which row, column and box it belongs to.
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Pick a shape from the pad
Six shape buttons live next to the board. Tap the one you want and that shape drops into the square.
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Check the row, column and box
Before you tap, scan the row, column and box for that square. Is the shape already there? If yes, try another.
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Use Notes when it gets tricky
Tap ✏️ Notes to add tiny shape marks — one for each shape that *might* fit. Tap Auto Notes to fill them in everywhere automatically.
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Need help? Tap Hint
The Hint button reveals the correct shape for the selected square. Hints count in your stats but they’re always there to help.
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Tap Check before celebrating
If anything is wrong, Check tells you how many shapes need fixing — without spoiling which ones.
Easy strategies for kids
- 🔍 Look for rows or columns with the most given shapes — they’re easiest to finish
- ⭐ If a column already has a star, no other square in that column can be a star
- ✏️ Use Notes to mark "maybe heart, maybe diamond" before committing
- 🔁 After every placement, scan the row, column and box for new chain moves
- ✅ Tap Check whenever you feel stuck — it spots wrong shapes fast
Older kids who already love numbers can switch back to a digit grid any time — try our 6×6 sudoku for the same 6×6 size with numbers instead of shapes, or classic 9×9 sudoku for the full 9×9 game.
Why Shape Sudoku is great for young kids
- 🧒 No reading needed — perfect for ages 4–6
- 🔶 Big, bold shapes that pop on phones and tablets
- 🧩 Same brain workout as classic sudoku — pattern spotting and logic
- ⏱️ Most Easy puzzles finish in under 5 minutes
- 🪶 Calm, quiet activity — no timers ticking down, no pressure
- 👨👩👧 Great for playing together — parents name shapes, kids tap them
- 🎨 Teaches shape recognition — a core skill for school readiness
Shape Sudoku vs. number sudoku
- 🔷 Shape Sudoku uses six shapes; number sudoku uses digits 1–6 or 1–9
- 👶 The shape version works for younger kids who can’t yet read numbers
- 🧠 Same logic on both — pattern spotting, no arithmetic
- ⏱ A shape grid is the same speed as a 6×6 number grid (3–10 minutes)
- 📱 Big shape icons are easy to tap on a small phone screen
- 🎓 Shapes double as a school-readiness exercise — kids name them as they play
Ready for more?
Once Easy Shape Sudoku feels comfortable, try Medium Shape Sudoku. From there you can graduate to Hard Shape Sudoku, and finally take on Expert Shape Sudoku — our toughest shape puzzle, with only a handful of starter shapes on the board.
Want a totally different look? Try Color Sudoku (the same 6×6 logic, played with six colour swatches), Killer Sudoku (sudoku with cage sums), Jigsaw Sudoku (sudoku with wiggly boxes), or Circle Sudoku (sudoku played on a round, target-shaped board).
Frequently asked questions
What age is Shape Sudoku good for?
Most kids enjoy Shape Sudoku from about age 4. Because there’s no reading or arithmetic, it works for pre-readers too — they just match shapes to the row, column and box rules.
Is Shape Sudoku the same as Picture Sudoku or Symbol Sudoku?
Yes — Shape Sudoku, Shapes Sudoku, Picture Sudoku and Symbol Sudoku are all names for sudoku played with pictures or symbols instead of digits. The rules are the same; only what fills the squares is different.
How is Shape Sudoku different from a 6×6 number sudoku?
The board, rules and difficulty are the same. The only difference is what fills the squares: six shapes instead of the digits 1–6. Switching between them is like switching costumes — the game underneath is identical.
How is Shape Sudoku different from Color Sudoku?
They use the same 6×6 board and the same logic. Color Sudoku swaps each digit for a coloured swatch; Shape Sudoku swaps each digit for a shape (and each shape also has its own colour). Some kids prefer shapes, some prefer colours — try both and see!
My child is colour-blind. Can they still play?
Yes — Shape Sudoku is built for this. Each of the six shapes has a distinct outline, so the puzzle is solvable using shape alone. The colours are extra; they’re not needed to tell the shapes apart.
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 the puzzle save my progress?
Yes — your shapes, notes and timer save automatically in your browser. Close the tab and come back later, and it will all still be there.
Try other sudoku games
Different look, same friendly logic. Pick a sibling puzzle to play next.