As someone who has been a fan of Sudoku for many years, I have often been asked the question, “Is Sudoku for everyone?” To answer this, I researched scientific journals. I will also share my experience regarding the matter.
Generally speaking, Sudoku can be enjoyed by people of all ages and skill levels. However, most manufacturers recommend this game for everyone over 8. There are also puzzle varieties meant for specific age groups. Lastly, this game can also be played without expensive tools and gadgets, making it an ideal past-time for everyone.
In this blog post, I will discuss my experience with Sudoku and why I believe it is a game that people of all ages and skill levels can enjoy. I will also dive into scientific research papers regarding the topic.
Can most people do Sudoku?
Sudoku is a puzzle game that people of all ages and skill levels can enjoy. The basic rules of the game are easy to understand, and with practice, most people can learn how to solve them. However, like any puzzle or game, some people may find them more challenging than others.
If you ask me, I will always say that Sudoku is for everyone. Of course, it requires some basic understanding of its rules and number, but anyone can read those rules online.
If you ask Sudoku manufacturers, you may see that Sudoku can be enjoyed by everyone ages eight and up. However, there are simple 4×4 Sudoku puzzles that can be enjoyed by kids aged four and up.
As you can see, ordinary Sudoku puzzles are recommended for anyone above 8. As long as they can read and know how to count, then they will have no trouble playing the puzzle.
To give more perspective, the Sudoku puzzles recommended for anyone above 8 are the most common 9×9 variant.
There are simpler and more complex variants for puzzles. In fact, there are 4×4 puzzles that are marketed for children.
As per the manufacturer’s recommendation, these 4×4 Sudoku puzzles are meant for children aged 4-8.
As you can see, the complexity might make it not for everyone, but generally, as long as you can read and count, you can play the puzzle.
Through my experience, I often heard people saying that Sudoku is for highly intelligent people or it is a great way to become smarter. Well, if you’re an avid reader of this blog, you already know that I will not believe in something without proper research.
So, let’s discuss that next as I debunk the Sudoku is only for high IQ individual rule.
Do you need a high IQ for Sudoku?
Sudoku does not require a high IQ to solve. It is a game of logic and strategy, not intelligence. So while a high IQ may make it easier to solve difficult puzzles, it is not a requirement.
Now, let’s prove this, shall we?
Let’s first look at what the research says.
A study published in the International Journal of Computer Applications found that there is a weak correlation between Sudoku scores and the WAIT test, indicating that in some cases, a high Sudoku doesn’t necessarily mean a high general IQ.
Let me repeat, there is only a weak correlation. This means we can’t say that only people with High IQ play Sudoku. Furthermore, people who are good at Sudoku don’t generally signify they have a good IQ score.
To give more context, the WAIT test stands for Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale.
WAIT is the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, published in 1949 and revised in 1974, and is acclaimed today as the best test for measuring intelligence.
Of course, the study is not perfect, as there are only 29 participants. Thus, while we can end it here, I need more studies supporting the claim.
That’s where I found a journal published in Psychological and Cognitive Sciences.
In the study, they found that the cognitive training often said about puzzles such as Sudoku are only placebo effects.
Let’s discuss this for a bit.
Often, you hear people saying that playing with puzzles increases your IQ. But, as we’ve discussed in the earlier study, we found only a weak correlation between IQ and Sudoku skills.
This became more apparent in the next study, where they found that the cognitive benefits of puzzles only stem from the placebo effect.
The placebo effect refers to the phenomenon in which a person experiences a perceived improvement in their condition after receiving treatment with no active therapeutic effect. This improvement can be due to psychological or emotional factors, such as the person’s belief in the treatment or the positive expectations they have for it.
People think they are getting smarter, but the benefits come only from psychological or emotional factors and not the puzzles themselves.
As we can see, the relationship between Sudoku and IQ isn’t that great, according to scientific literature. But, of course, more research is necessary so let’s wait for those in the future.
But what we can get here is that IQ is not an issue when working with Sudoku puzzles. If you enjoy the challenge, IQ should never hinder starting to play the game.
Recommended Read: While the benefits of Sudoku are found to be from the Placebo effect, I can’t say there are no benefits in playing the game. In fact, I found 9 reasons why they are good, especially for older adults. If you’re interested, you may find the article here: Is Sudoku Good for Old People?
With these in mind, through experience, I know that some people are good at Sudoku. If IQ is not the real reason they are good, what is? Let’s discuss that next.
What kind of person is good at Sudoku?
The people who are good at Sudoku are the ones who enjoy challenges. They are also the people who enjoy working with these puzzles in their free time. Basically, anyone who is willing to practice and spend time playing Sudoku can become better at it.
As we already know, IQ is not a big factor in becoming good. As with anything, everyone with perseverance can become better at the game.
In conclusion, People who are good at Sudoku are typically those who enjoy puzzles and have good problem-solving skills. They can think logically and strategically and can focus for long periods. They may also enjoy other games and puzzles that challenge their minds.
The key term here is “enjoy” this means anyone who enjoys playing the puzzle will eventually get better at it.
Thus, Sudoku is a game that people of all ages and skill levels can enjoy. It does not require a high IQ and people who are good at it are typically those who want puzzles and have good problem-solving skills.
