Sudoku vs. Crosswords: Which Do You Enjoy?

Sudoku and crosswords offer different kinds of puzzle solving. Choose by the activity you enjoy, rather than a promise that one will improve your health more than the other.

How the puzzles differ

In standard Sudoku, you place digits so each row, column and box contains 1 through 9 once. You work from the givens and constraints; arithmetic and trivia are not required. The beginner course explains the rules with examples.

In a crossword, you interpret clues and fit words into crossing entries. Vocabulary, spelling, wordplay and cultural references can matter, depending on the puzzle. Crossing letters can help when a clue is unfamiliar.

Language and presentation

Sudoku uses the same basic digit-placement rules across languages once you understand the instructions. Crosswords depend more on the language and conventions of their clues. Readability, input controls and the setter's difficulty still affect either experience.

Choose a session that suits you

• Try Sudoku if you enjoy checking possibilities against a small set of rules.
• Try a crossword if you enjoy clues, words and crossing-letter discoveries.
• Alternate if you enjoy both. There is no required schedule or quota.

Is either better for your brain?

This comparison does not establish a medical winner. Describing the thinking used during a puzzle is not proof of lasting benefits to everyday memory or health. See our review of Sudoku and brain-health claims for the evidence and its limits.

To try Sudoku, open today's puzzle or choose an Easy printable pack.