The History of Sudoku

by Laura Rupert

A game that has been growing in popularity throughout the past year, both online and off, is the game of Sudoku. The history of Sudoku is not a very lengthy one as this game has only been around for about 25 years or so and its main popularity has only been experienced in the past year. By detailing some of the historical factors relating to Sudoku, one who enjoys playing the game may get a better grasp on its origin and historical journey to the game that it is today.

The Game of Sudoku

Prior to getting into the history of Sudoku, it is pertinent to provide a brief overview of the game itself. Sudoku is a logic puzzle where proper placement is a key component. The goal for those individuals playing Sudoku is to place numbers in the correct spots on 9 subgrids so that each number is only listed one time per row, column and subgrid throughout the overall main grid. It is a game where the players must pursue it with an even pace and have the necessary logical attributes to complete it.

Where It Began

Sudoku was developed by a man named Howard Garns and originally published in a magazine in the United States in 1979. A few years later, in 1986, Sudoku got its momentum in Japan. It wasn't until the year 2005 when Sudoku really caught on and was being played by many individuals throughout the world. Once the Sudoku craze began it was hard to contain it and large numbers of people today are familiar with the game of Sudoku, if only by name alone.

Reasons for its Popularity

There are a few reasons why Sudoku is gaining in popularity each and every day. The first deals with the fact that one can play Sudoku online by themselves and do not need to have opposing players. This makes playing the game quite easy and one can take part in it whenever they so desire.

Another reason for the growing popularity of Sudoku is that it is relatively easy to learn how to play. Once individuals learn the rules, it is even easier to keep them in mind during game play. The simple rules of the game make it even that much more enjoyable.

Lastly, Sudoku is a popular game in that it gets individuals to think. Playing Sudoku is a great way for gamers to increase their mental acuity and learn to think outside of the box. One who plays Sudoku becomes a better strategizer each and every time they play.

Where Sudoku is Going

Sudoku is a game which took a while to catch on. However, in the past year the rate in which Sudoku gained speed was unbelievable. Daily newspapers add Sudoku puzzles into their game section alongside crossword puzzles, you can play sudoku online and Sudoku tournaments are held throughout the world. Sudoku may have taken some time to catch on and gain popularity with the masses however, now that the Sudoku name is becoming well known, one can state that its popularity is sure to keep increasing as the years go by and more individuals become familiar with the game of Sudoku.