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Pure Sudoku vs NYT Sudoku: the glow up

📅 November 28, 2025 ⏱ 2 min read
nyt sudoku

We have nothing but respect for the New York Times. They set the standard for daily word games, and their crossword is legendary. But let’s be honest: their Sudoku app hasn’t changed much since the flip-phone era.

If you are still playing on the NYT app, you are missing out on the features that make modern digital Sudoku so addictive. Here is the breakdown of Pure Sudoku vs. NYT Sudoku and why it might be time for your daily ritual to get a glow-up.

The Feature Showdown

Both games give you a 9×9 grid. But that is where the similarities end. Here is what you get with the upgrade:

Feature Pure Sudoku NYT Sudoku
Multiplayer ✅ Race friends in real-time ❌ Solitary only
Smart Notes ✅ Auto-clearing & Conflict Warnings ❌ Manual only
Statistics ✅ Heatmaps, Averages & Global Rank ⚠️ Basic completion streaks
Price 100% Free ❌ Subscription required for full access

3 Reasons to Switch Today

1. Don’t Just Solve—Compete

The NYT experience is quiet and solitary. Pure Sudoku brings the noise. Our Multiplayer Mode lets you send a link to a friend and race on the exact same puzzle seed. Watch their progress bar fill up in real-time and settle the “who is smarter” debate once and for all.

2. Data-Driven Improvement

We don’t just tell you that you finished; we tell you how you finished. Our dashboard tracks your average times per difficulty, your win rates, and your global ranking. It is a training ground, not just a toy.

3. No Paywalls, No Limits

The New York Times puts its best content behind a subscription. We believe brain training should be free. Play unlimited puzzles, access the entire daily archive, and use all our advanced solver tools without paying a cent.


Still Love the Classic?

We get it. Old habits are hard to break. If you prefer the minimal, newspaper-style experience, the NYT Sudoku is still a solid choice.

But if you are ready for a Sudoku game that was built for 2025—with dark mode, haptics, and social play—we are ready for you.

Upgrade your morning routine. Click here to play today’s puzzle on Pure Sudoku.