Discussions

I never thought a bunch of numbers in a square could make me feel this many emotions — frustration, excitement, triumph, and sometimes pure defeat. Yet, that’s exactly what happens every time I play Sudoku.

If you’ve ever stared at a nearly finished puzzle, convinced there’s a mistake but too stubborn to restart — you know the feeling. Sudoku isn’t just a puzzle; it’s a battle between logic and impatience, a quiet competition between you and your own brain.

How I Fell into the Sudoku Rabbit Hole

My first encounter with Sudoku was during a long train ride. You know those tiny puzzle grids in newspapers? I used to skip them completely. But that day, I was bored, phone battery dying, and desperate for something to pass the time.

I started with the “easy” puzzle, thinking it’d be a quick warm-up. Ten minutes later, I was sweating over a 9x9 grid like it was a final exam.

There was something oddly satisfying about filling in those boxes, watching the numbers line up perfectly. Every time I placed a “9” in the right spot, I felt like I’d cracked a secret code.