I’m addicted to Sudoku. The problem is every free Sudoku app is an ad delivery mechanism with a puzzle attached. I wanted the puzzle without the ad. So I built the version I actually wanted to use.
The Problem
Popular Sudoku apps are filled with ads, dark patterns, and account requirements. The paid alternatives charge subscriptions for what should be a simple daily habit. Players just want a clean puzzle and a streak counter.
What It Is
A minimal daily Sudoku app. One puzzle per day, seeded from the date, so every player gets the same puzzle. Full undo/redo history, notes mode, three hints per game, and streak tracking with no account required. Everything runs locally. Nothing leaves the device.
The same puzzle engine also powers the Sudoku Book Maker: the two share code but serve completely different use cases.
Features
- Daily puzzle generated via date-seeded PRNG: deterministic, reproducible
- Full undo history for every move
- Notes/pencil marks mode
- 3 hints per game
- Streak tracking and session stats via localStorage
- Free play at multiple difficulty levels
- Offline capable, no server dependency
Stack
| Tool | Role |
|---|---|
| React 18 + Vite | Game UI and state management |
| Vanilla CSS | Minimal grid styling |
| localStorage | Streaks, stats, game state |
| Cloudflare Pages | Hosted inside wanessalabs-games hub |
Revenue Model
The app is free. The same puzzle engine powers KDP physical book sales via the Sudoku Book Maker tool.