LinkedIn Mini Sudoku: How to Play, Solve Faster & Get Unlimited Puzzles
LinkedIn, in an effort to boost user usage and retention, started putting daily games in their platform. In August 2025, LinkedIn launched Mini Sudoku—a free daily 6x6 puzzle game built directly into it, and it's been quietly building a massive daily habit for millions of users.
Think of it as the classic game made mini — the same logic, half the grid.
In this article, you'll learn:
- What Mini Sudoku is
- How to play it
- Several basic tips to play better
- Where can you play it beyond LinkedIn's daily limit
LinkedIn's Twist to Sudoku's Classic Logic Game
LinkedIn's Mini Sudoku was launched around August 2025 in partnership with Nikoli, the original Japanese publisher that popularized sudoku, and Thomas Snyder — 3x World Sudoku Champion. Snyder walks players through puzzle construction principles that make each grid uniquely solvable.
Unlike the classic 9x9 grid sudoku is known for, it has a 6x6 grid instead. This version has 6 2x3 boxes, with 36 cells in total. To solve the puzzle, players need to fill in each row, column and box with numbers 1-6 without repeating.
Free-to-play, new editions drop daily and refresh every 24 hours, like most daily games and apps. While it is smaller than the original sudoku puzzle, it still offers a manageable challenge and is made to be played during short breaks. However, the difficulty can't be changed, and depending on how hard the puzzle is for the day, game time takes between two and eight minutes.
How to Play LinkedIn Games Mini Sudoku
- Access the game: Go to LinkedIn and click "Games" in the left sidebar, then select Mini Sudoku
- Understand the grid: You'll see a 6x6 grid with some numbers pre-filled as given or clues
- Remember the rules: Every row, column and shaded region must contain every digit exactly once — numbers 1 through 6, no repeats.
- Start with what you know: Look for rows, columns or boxes that already have numbers filled in, as they are easier to deduce
- Use process of elimination: More cells get filled in as you progress, and you can solve the puzzle bit by bit this way
- Work through conflicts: If a number can only go in one place in a box, then it should go there, but don't forget to check if there are possible duplicates
- Complete the grid: Fill all 36 cells correctly to complete the puzzle; each Mini Sudoku answers differently and has a unique solution
Basic Tips to Solve LinkedIn Mini Sudoku Faster
Every LinkedIn Mini Sudoku puzzle is constructed and reviewed by 3x World Sudoku Champion Thomas Snyder — which means every grid has one clean, logical path to a solution.
Here's how the World Sudoku Champion walks through a Mini Sudoku grid: start constrained, scan by number, and use the shaded regions to force placements.
Start with the most constrained cells
Look for rows, columns, or boxes that are nearly complete. If a row has 5 numbers, the 6th is obvious. Work these first before tackling the harder cells.
If a number has only one valid position in a box, place it. That one cell can unlock an entire row or column.
Scan by number, not by cell
Instead of looking at each empty cell and asking "what goes here?", pick a number (say, 4) and ask "where can 4 go in this box?" This eliminates candidates faster.
The World Sudoku Champion walks players through this technique: pick a digit, then ask where it can legally go — not which digit fills this cell.
Use notes/pencil marks
If you're unsure about a cell, jot down the possible numbers. As you fill in other cells, the possibilities narrow. In classic sudoku, this is called "pencilmarking".
Think in rows, columns, and shaded regions
The shaded region must contain every digit exactly once. A number forced out of a row or column often lands in a specific shaded region by elimination.
Use the 6x6 advantage
Unlike 9x9 sudoku, LinkedIn Mini Sudoku has only 36 cells and 6 boxes. This means the logic unfolds faster—if you're stuck, it's easier to study and retract your steps if needed. Go back and re-scan.
Can't Play More Than Once a Day
As we've said earlier, the daily puzzle gives you only ONE puzzle per day. If you finish early, you're done until tomorrow, which is frustrating when you're trying to improve or just want another puzzle to have fun with.
The reason? LinkedIn isn't a games platform. It's a corporate connection site. LinkedIn Games were specifically made to give people a reason to keep coming back to the site and interact with its systems, which is why the catalog is all daily games.
So what if someone wants to play more Mini Sudoku?
The answer—minisudoku.com. Mini Sudoku offers an Unlimited Mode where you can play all the 6x6 puzzles you want. Right now, it has three playable modes:
- Daily Mini and Max - Daily modes that many LinkedIn gamers will feel very familiar with
- Unlimited - Infinite unique puzzles, with adjustable difficulty between Beginner and Expert
- Archive - A repository of past daily puzzles, for those who missed it or just want more to play
And the best part? It's completely free-to-play! No paywalls, no one puzzle a day limit. New editions drop daily at midnight — but that's cold comfort when you've already finished today's puzzle at 9am.
While new editions drop daily on LinkedIn, minisudoku.com's Unlimited Mode means you never have to wait.
FAQ: Mini Sudoku Answers
What is LinkedIn Mini Sudoku?
It's a free daily 6x6 sudoku puzzle built into LinkedIn game built into LinkedIn, launched in August 2025. One new puzzle is available each day, created in partnership with three-time World Sudoku Champion Thomas Snyder and Nikoli.
The core rule: every row, column and shaded region must contain every digit exactly once.
How is LinkedIn Mini Sudoku different from regular sudoku?
Regular sudoku uses a 9x9 grid with numbers 1-9. The 6x6 version uses a smaller grid, making it faster to complete (2-8 minutes vs. 10-30 minutes for standard sudoku).
Both versions share the same core rule — every row, column and shaded region must contain every digit exactly once — but the 6x6 format solves in a fraction of the time.
How do I get better at LinkedIn Mini Sudoku?
The World Sudoku Champion walks beginners through the same fundamentals: scan by digit instead of by cell, fill constrained rows first, and treat each shaded region as its own mini-puzzle. Continuous play of Mini Sudoku, Wordle variants or any puzzle in general, will not only sharpen your skills but also provide cognitive boosts! Read our number puzzles brain benefits article for more information.
How many puzzles can I play per day?
LinkedIn limits to ONE puzzle per day. For unlimited 6x6 sudoku practice in the same format, minisudoku.com offers a better choice, with adjustable difficulty and no daily limit.
Is LinkedIn Mini Sudoku free?
Yes. It is playable by LinkedIn and non-LinkedIn users.. New editions drop daily with no cost to play.
Who made LinkedIn Mini Sudoku?
It was built in partnership with Nikoli (the original Japanese Sudoku publisher) and Thomas Snyder, three-time World Sudoku Champion.
Thomas Snyder — 3x World Sudoku Champion — co-designed the puzzle format to ensure each grid is solvable through pure logic.
Is LinkedIn Mini Sudoku getting harder over time?
Yes. The difficulty rotates — some days are beginner level, others are significantly harder. There's no fixed progression; it varies day to day, making it ideal for adults in particular. If you want more games like LinkedIn Mini Sudoku, we highly recommend reading our complete guide to logic puzzles for adults.
Play a Mini Sudoku Puzzle Today!
With 3x World Sudoku Champion Thomas Snyder behind the design, every puzzle is built to be cracked — no guessing required.
We hope that we were able to teach you why Mini Sudoku is the perfect complement to LinkedIn's version if you're looking to play more than one in a day. If you're looking to play more apps like those in LinkedIn Games, play Queens Ultimate logic puzzle and join our official Discord server!
Play Mini Sudoku Unlimited Mode →
*Mini Sudoku is not affiliated with LinkedIn or its games.