16×16 vs 25×25 Sudoku: Which Giant Grid Should You Try?
Compare 16x16 Hexadoku and 25x25 giant Sudoku before choosing your next large-grid puzzle.
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Get the iPhone App →16×16 Sudoku and 25×25 Sudoku are both large-grid variants, but they are not close in workload. If you want the full giant grid, open the 25×25 Sudoku page. If you want a more manageable step up from 9×9, start with 16×16 Hexadoku.
The size difference
| Variant | Cells | Boxes | Symbol count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic Sudoku | 81 | 9 boxes of 3×3 | 9 |
| 16×16 Sudoku | 256 | 16 boxes of 4×4 | 16 |
| 25×25 Sudoku | 625 | 25 boxes of 5×5 | 25 |
Choose 16×16 if…
- You already solve 9×9 puzzles comfortably.
- You want a large grid without needing a huge printed page.
- You are learning letter-based Sudoku symbols.
- You want to practice scanning without managing 625 cells.
Choose 25×25 if…
- You specifically want a giant Sudoku challenge.
- You are comfortable using candidates and notation systems.
- You want a printable grid for long-form solving.
- You are researching mega Sudoku or giant Sudoku formats.
For broader context, see Sudoku variations explained, then use the Pure Sudoku 25×25 grid as the canonical giant-grid hub.