2026-01-01
Puzzle guide
Full breakdown using the Solver walkthrough format — cell-by-cell fills, technique labels, and strategy notes.
Overview
Mini Sudoku Level 1 is part of our exclusive Mini Sudoku level track. Mini Sudoku is LinkedIn's compact sudoku variant: fill a 6×6 grid so every row, column, and irregular region contains the digits 1 through 6 exactly once. This page includes the live board, a solved-board view, and a step-by-step Solution walkthrough. Difficulty: Easy. Estimated solve time: 3–5 min. Read the explainer sections below for strategy, or jump straight into play.
Answer
This 6×6 Mini Sudoku starts with 18 given digits and fills 18 remaining cells. Layout: 6 regions, 6 cells each.
R1C1=3, R1C2=2, R2C2=6, R2C6=2, R3C2=1, R3C3=2, R3C4=4, R3C5=3, R4C2=5, R4C6=1, R4C4=2, R5C2=3, R5C3=1, R5C4=5, R5C5=4, R6C1=5, R6C4=1, R6C6=3
Analysis
I solve Mini Sudoku Level 1 on a 6×6 board starting from 18 clues. 6 irregular regions overlap rows and columns — not classic 3×3 boxes. My hint-driven path uses 18× Naked single across 18 placements.
First pass: scan givens and mark blockers. Most fills come from scanning rows and columns for cells where only one digit fits — classic naked-single territory.
Next 4 fills: R1C1=3, R1C2=2, R2C2=6, R2C6=2. I used Naked single, Naked single, Naked single, Naked single. The naked single at R1C1 opened the chain.
Next 4 fills: R3C2=1, R3C3=2, R3C4=4, R3C5=3. I used Naked single, Naked single, Naked single, Naked single. The naked single at R3C2 opened the chain.
Next 4 fills: R4C2=5, R4C6=1, R4C4=2, R5C2=3. I used Naked single, Naked single, Naked single, Naked single. The naked single at R4C2 opened the chain.
Next 4 fills: R5C3=1, R5C4=5, R5C5=4, R6C1=5. I used Naked single, Naked single, Naked single, Naked single. The naked single at R5C3 opened the chain.
Next 2 fills: R6C4=1, R6C6=3. I used Naked single, Naked single. The naked single at R6C4 opened the chain.
Mid-solve checkpoint: 9 cells remain after the first half of the chain. Row-scan heavy boards often accelerate once two or three regions close — watch for hidden singles in tight blocks.
Late game: final batches collapse quickly when rows and columns near completion. Every row, column, and region contains digits 1–6 with no repeats. Completed path: R1C1=3, R1C2=2, R2C2=6, R2C6=2, R3C2=1, R3C3=2, R3C4=4, R3C5=3, R4C2=5, R4C6=1, R4C4=2, R5C2=3, R5C3=1, R5C4=5, R5C5=4, R6C1=5, R6C4=1, R6C6=3.
Board done — every unit checks out. Most fills come from scanning rows and columns for cells where only one digit fits — classic naked-single territory. Replay without hints using the same scan order.
Cells
Reasoning
Only 3 fits here — 1 is already in row 1 and column 1 and region 1; 2 is already in column 1; 4 is already in row 1 and column 1 and region 1; 5 is already in row 1 and region 1; 6 is already in row 1 and column 1.
Solving note
Naked single at R1C1 in region 1. Only one digit fits this cell after row, column, and region eliminations.
Reasoning
Only 2 fits here — 1 is already in row 1 and region 1; 3 is already in row 1 and region 1; 4 is already in row 1 and column 2 and region 1; 5 is already in row 1 and region 1; 6 is already in row 1.
Solving note
Naked single at R1C2 in region 1. Only one digit fits this cell after row, column, and region eliminations.
Reasoning
Only 6 fits here — 1 is already in row 2 and region 1; 2 is already in column 2 and region 1; 3 is already in row 2 and region 1; 4 is already in row 2 and column 2 and region 1; 5 is already in row 2 and region 1.
Solving note
Naked single at R2C2 in region 1. Only one digit fits this cell after row, column, and region eliminations.
Reasoning
Only 2 fits here — 1 is already in row 2 and region 2; 3 is already in row 2 and region 2; 4 is already in row 2 and column 6 and region 2; 5 is already in row 2 and column 6 and region 2; 6 is already in row 2 and column 6 and region 2.
Solving note
Naked single at R2C6 in region 2. Only one digit fits this cell after row, column, and region eliminations.
Reasoning
Only 1 fits here — 2 is already in column 2; 3 is already in region 3; 4 is already in column 2 and region 3; 5 is already in row 3; 6 is already in row 3 and column 2 and region 3.
Solving note
Naked single at R3C2 in region 3. Only one digit fits this cell after row, column, and region eliminations.
Reasoning
Only 2 fits here — 1 is already in row 3 and region 3; 3 is already in column 3 and region 3; 4 is already in column 3 and region 3; 5 is already in row 3 and column 3; 6 is already in row 3 and column 3 and region 3.
Solving note
Naked single at R3C3 in region 3. Only one digit fits this cell after row, column, and region eliminations.
Reasoning
Only 4 fits here — 1 is already in row 3; 2 is already in row 3; 3 is already in column 4; 5 is already in row 3 and region 4; 6 is already in row 3 and column 4 and region 4.
Solving note
Naked single at R3C4 in region 4. Only one digit fits this cell after row, column, and region eliminations.
Reasoning
Only 3 fits here — 1 is already in row 3 and column 5; 2 is already in row 3 and column 5; 4 is already in row 3 and region 4; 5 is already in row 3 and column 5 and region 4; 6 is already in row 3 and column 5 and region 4.
Solving note
Naked single at R3C5 in region 4. Only one digit fits this cell after row, column, and region eliminations.
Reasoning
Only 5 fits here — 1 is already in column 2 and region 3; 2 is already in column 2 and region 3; 3 is already in row 4 and region 3; 4 is already in row 4 and column 2 and region 3; 6 is already in row 4 and column 2 and region 3.
Solving note
Naked single at R4C2 in region 3. Only one digit fits this cell after row, column, and region eliminations.
Reasoning
Only 1 fits here — 2 is already in column 6; 3 is already in row 4 and region 4; 4 is already in row 4 and column 6 and region 4; 5 is already in row 4 and column 6 and region 4; 6 is already in row 4 and column 6 and region 4.
Solving note
Naked single at R4C6 in region 4. Only one digit fits this cell after row, column, and region eliminations.
Reasoning
Only 2 fits here — 1 is already in row 4 and region 4; 3 is already in row 4 and column 4 and region 4; 4 is already in row 4 and column 4 and region 4; 5 is already in row 4 and region 4; 6 is already in row 4 and column 4 and region 4.
Solving note
Naked single at R4C4 in region 4. Only one digit fits this cell after row, column, and region eliminations.
Reasoning
Only 3 fits here — 1 is already in column 2; 2 is already in row 5 and column 2 and region 5; 4 is already in column 2 and region 5; 5 is already in column 2; 6 is already in row 5 and column 2 and region 5.
Solving note
Naked single at R5C2 in region 5. Only one digit fits this cell after row, column, and region eliminations.
Reasoning
Only 1 fits here — 2 is already in row 5 and column 3 and region 5; 3 is already in row 5 and column 3 and region 5; 4 is already in column 3 and region 5; 5 is already in column 3; 6 is already in row 5 and column 3 and region 5.
Solving note
Naked single at R5C3 in region 5. Only one digit fits this cell after row, column, and region eliminations.
Reasoning
Only 5 fits here — 1 is already in row 5; 2 is already in row 5 and column 4 and region 6; 3 is already in row 5 and column 4; 4 is already in column 4; 6 is already in row 5 and column 4 and region 6.
Solving note
Naked single at R5C4 in region 6. Only one digit fits this cell after row, column, and region eliminations.
Reasoning
Only 4 fits here — 1 is already in row 5 and column 5; 2 is already in row 5 and column 5 and region 6; 3 is already in row 5 and column 5; 5 is already in row 5 and column 5 and region 6; 6 is already in row 5 and column 5 and region 6.
Solving note
Naked single at R5C5 in region 6. Only one digit fits this cell after row, column, and region eliminations.
Reasoning
Only 5 fits here — 1 is already in column 1 and region 5; 2 is already in row 6 and column 1 and region 5; 3 is already in column 1 and region 5; 4 is already in row 6 and column 1 and region 5; 6 is already in row 6 and column 1 and region 5.
Solving note
Naked single at R6C1 in region 5. Only one digit fits this cell after row, column, and region eliminations.
Reasoning
Only 1 fits here — 2 is already in row 6 and column 4 and region 6; 3 is already in column 4; 4 is already in row 6 and column 4 and region 6; 5 is already in row 6 and column 4 and region 6; 6 is already in row 6 and column 4 and region 6.
Solving note
Naked single at R6C4 in region 6. Only one digit fits this cell after row, column, and region eliminations.
Reasoning
Only 3 fits here — 1 is already in row 6 and column 6 and region 6; 2 is already in row 6 and column 6 and region 6; 4 is already in row 6 and column 6 and region 6; 5 is already in row 6 and column 6 and region 6; 6 is already in row 6 and column 6 and region 6.
Solving note
Naked single at R6C6 in region 6. Only one digit fits this cell after row, column, and region eliminations.
Verification
I trust this path because every placement came from the same hint engine the game uses — naked singles first, hidden singles second. Wrong digits would duplicate in a row, column, or region immediately.
Every row, column, and region contains digits 1–6 with no repeats.
Solve path
Phase 1: 18 given digits on a 6×6 board with 6 irregular regions — fill every row, column, and region with 1–6 exactly once. Step 1: R1C1 = 3 (naked single). Only 3 fits here — 1 is already in row 1 and column 1 and region 1; 2 is already in column 1; 4 is already in row 1 and column 1 and region 1; 5 is already in row 1 and region 1; 6 is already in row 1 and column 1. Step 2: R1C2 = 2 (naked single). Only 2 fits here — 1 is already in row 1 and region 1; 3 is already in row 1 and region 1; 4 is already in row 1 and column 2 and region 1; 5 is already in row 1 and region 1; 6 is already in row 1. Step 3: R2C2 = 6 (naked single). Only 6 fits here — 1 is already in row 2 and region 1; 2 is already in column 2 and region 1; 3 is already in row 2 and region 1; 4 is already in row 2 and column 2 and region 1; 5 is already in row 2 and region 1. Step 4: R2C6 = 2 (naked single). Only 2 fits here — 1 is already in row 2 and region 2; 3 is already in row 2 and region 2; 4 is already in row 2 and column 6 and region 2; 5 is already in row 2 and column 6 and region 2; 6 is already in row 2 and column 6 and region 2. Step 5: R3C2 = 1 (naked single). Only 1 fits here — 2 is already in column 2; 3 is already in region 3; 4 is already in column 2 and region 3; 5 is already in row 3; 6 is already in row 3 and column 2 and region 3. Step 6: R3C3 = 2 (naked single). Only 2 fits here — 1 is already in row 3 and region 3; 3 is already in column 3 and region 3; 4 is already in column 3 and region 3; 5 is already in row 3 and column 3; 6 is already in row 3 and column 3 and region 3. Step 7: R3C4 = 4 (naked single). Only 4 fits here — 1 is already in row 3; 2 is already in row 3; 3 is already in column 4; 5 is already in row 3 and region 4; 6 is already in row 3 and column 4 and region 4. Step 8: R3C5 = 3 (naked single). Only 3 fits here — 1 is already in row 3 and column 5; 2 is already in row 3 and column 5; 4 is already in row 3 and region 4; 5 is already in row 3 and column 5 and region 4; 6 is already in row 3 and column 5 and region 4. Step 9: R4C2 = 5 (naked single). Only 5 fits here — 1 is already in column 2 and region 3; 2 is already in column 2 and region 3; 3 is already in row 4 and region 3; 4 is already in row 4 and column 2 and region 3; 6 is already in row 4 and column 2 and region 3. Step 10: R4C6 = 1 (naked single). Only 1 fits here — 2 is already in column 6; 3 is already in row 4 and region 4; 4 is already in row 4 and column 6 and region 4; 5 is already in row 4 and column 6 and region 4; 6 is already in row 4 and column 6 and region 4. Step 11: R4C4 = 2 (naked single). Only 2 fits here — 1 is already in row 4 and region 4; 3 is already in row 4 and column 4 and region 4; 4 is already in row 4 and column 4 and region 4; 5 is already in row 4 and region 4; 6 is already in row 4 and column 4 and region 4. Step 12: R5C2 = 3 (naked single). Only 3 fits here — 1 is already in column 2; 2 is already in row 5 and column 2 and region 5; 4 is already in column 2 and region 5; 5 is already in column 2; 6 is already in row 5 and column 2 and region 5. Step 13: R5C3 = 1 (naked single). Only 1 fits here — 2 is already in row 5 and column 3 and region 5; 3 is already in row 5 and column 3 and region 5; 4 is already in column 3 and region 5; 5 is already in column 3; 6 is already in row 5 and column 3 and region 5. Step 14: R5C4 = 5 (naked single). Only 5 fits here — 1 is already in row 5; 2 is already in row 5 and column 4 and region 6; 3 is already in row 5 and column 4; 4 is already in column 4; 6 is already in row 5 and column 4 and region 6. Step 15: R5C5 = 4 (naked single). Only 4 fits here — 1 is already in row 5 and column 5; 2 is already in row 5 and column 5 and region 6; 3 is already in row 5 and column 5; 5 is already in row 5 and column 5 and region 6; 6 is already in row 5 and column 5 and region 6. Step 16: R6C1 = 5 (naked single). Only 5 fits here — 1 is already in column 1 and region 5; 2 is already in row 6 and column 1 and region 5; 3 is already in column 1 and region 5; 4 is already in row 6 and column 1 and region 5; 6 is already in row 6 and column 1 and region 5. Step 17: R6C4 = 1 (naked single). Only 1 fits here — 2 is already in row 6 and column 4 and region 6; 3 is already in column 4; 4 is already in row 6 and column 4 and region 6; 5 is already in row 6 and column 4 and region 6; 6 is already in row 6 and column 4 and region 6. Step 18: R6C6 = 3 (naked single). Only 3 fits here — 1 is already in row 6 and column 6 and region 6; 2 is already in row 6 and column 6 and region 6; 4 is already in row 6 and column 6 and region 6; 5 is already in row 6 and column 6 and region 6; 6 is already in row 6 and column 6 and region 6. Complete: Every row, column, and region contains digits 1–6 with no repeats.
Pattern
Most fills come from scanning rows and columns for cells where only one digit fits — classic naked-single territory.
Techniques: 18× Naked single
Learn more in Mini Sudoku Puzzle Strategies →Takeaways
Hint order matched human scanning — 18× Naked single across 18 cells.
Placing a digit that fits the row but breaks its region is the most common slip on irregular Mini Sudoku boards.
Retry Mini Sudoku Level 1 with one fewer hint — aim to spot the first hidden single without help.
Solution
This Mini Sudoku board is 6×6 with 6 regions, 6 cells each and 18 given digits. Unlike classic 9×9 sudoku, the shaded regions here are irregular shapes that overlap rows and columns, so each placement affects multiple groups at once. Every row, column, and region must contain 1 through 6 with no repeats — the hint engine uses naked singles and hidden singles to walk through 18 remaining cells. Most fills come from scanning rows and columns for cells where only one digit fits — classic naked-single territory. Solve order (hint-driven): R1C1=3, R1C2=2, R2C2=6, R2C6=2, R3C2=1, R3C3=2, R3C4=4, R3C5=3, R4C2=5, R4C6=1, R4C4=2, R5C2=3, R5C3=1, R5C4=5, R5C5=4, R6C1=5, R6C4=1, R6C6=3. Use the Solution tab for a cell-by-cell walkthrough with live grid updates, or the Solved board tab for the complete grid at a glance.