A game timer, a game board cartridge, and a plurality of game boards for inserting into the game board cartridge are provided. A play base has a plurality of grids and plurality of timer spots for receiving the game timer with each grid having a plurality of holding cells for receiving one of the plurality of numbered game tiles. A game board cartridge carrier for removeably holding the game board cartridge with the game board cartridge receives at least one of the plurality of game boards. A plurality of numbered game tiles with each of the plurality of tiles having playing tile indicia corresponding to an integer selected within the range of 0 to 9 is provided. The game board cartridge is positioned over the play base and can be rotated in relation thereto. Each of the plurality of game boards is marked with a game board grid having a plurality of rows and columns forming a plurality of squares, with each of the plurality of squares having a game board indicia corresponding to an integer selected within the range of 0 to 9, and with none of the integers repeating within the same row, same column, or with respect to a connecting diagonal square. The plurality of tiles are drawn during game play, so that a player can make a diagonal connection to score points by matching the playing tile indicia with the game board indicia during a predetermined time period measured by the game timer.

A magnetic sudoku board has a housing, a closeable lid and an inner playing surface. The inner playing surface having gridlines to form the magnetic sudoku board. An assortment of magnetic playing pieces includes a large set and small set. To distinguish between the numbers, 1-9, the assortment of magnetic playing pieces has a certain color that corresponds to a specific number. Accordingly, the same number in both the large set and the small set have coordinating colors. These colors visually assist the player so that the same numbers are not repeated in each column, row, and 33 grid box.

Methods and apparatus of associating by a computerized system, labels with the order of execution of steps of solving a puzzle, game or activity, for one or more parts of one or more solution-paths for the puzzle, game or activity are described. Execution of the puzzle solution and also the particular sequence of steps in the solution paths are used to evaluate a relative efficiency of one sequence of steps over the other sequence. By quantifying efficiency of the solution path it becomes possible to logically and objectively compare the efficiency of two or more solutions or completions of the puzzle, game or activity.

A multiplayer partisan Sudoku system provides a non-chance, turn-based, territory-control strategy game and method of play in which multiple players compete in a head-to-head environment in order to control the greatest number of regions on a special case of Latin squares that are subdivided and have an additional regional constraint, commonly understood as a Sudoku square. In one embodiment, players compete to gain control of regions by placing integers 0 to n1 into the boxes within the regions. Thus, the multiplayer partisan Sudoku system provides exciting multiplayer game play based on familiar Sudoku rules.

Games of the present technology are strategic districting games in which one or more players are presented with a region divided into sectors, where each sector has a given set of elements, and players are tasked with combining the sectors to create a plurality of districts that achieve an objective.

The present invention relates to puzzle games, and more particularly to a symbol-based puzzle game where the user solves the puzzle by filling puzzle boxes with pre-selected symbols.

A puzzle game including a number map having a 99 grid filled 9 number sets, where each number set includes the numbers 1 through 9. The 9 number sets form unique shapes comprised of 9 grid squares, where each number from each number set is connected at a side of a square in the grid to the other numbers in the set. Corresponding to each number set is a tile group comprised of 9 transparent tiles of the same color, where each tile group is a different color. To solve the puzzle every tile must be placed adjacent a tile of the same color within a single number set. Same color tiles must be placed on a different number within a single number set. The puzzle is solved when each number set is covered by tiles of the same color and the grid completely covered by tiles.

A puzzle game including a number map having a 99 grid filled 9 number sets, where each number set includes the numbers 1 through 9. The 9 number sets form unique shapes comprised of 9 grid squares, where each number from each number set is connected at a side of a square in the grid to the other numbers in the set. Corresponding to each number set is a tile group comprised of 9 transparent tiles of the same color, where each tile group is a different color. To solve the puzzle every tile must be placed adjacent a tile of the same color within a single number set. Same color tiles must be placed on a different number within a single number set. The puzzle is solved when each number set is covered by tiles of the same color and the grid completely covered by tiles.

Systems for operating a Sudoku style hybrid game are disclosed. Sudoku style hybrid games can include a themed entertainment game in which a player places symbols into a Sudoku puzzle and events within the entertainment portion of the Sudoku style entertainment game can trigger wagers in a real world game of chance. Players may compete against each other to determine a winning player based on the amount of time taken to complete the puzzle of the Sudoku style entertainment game. The outcome of the wagers can result in payouts of real world credit and can also affect gameplay within the Sudoku style entertainment game.

A board game which comprises of a plurality of playing pieces and a board. The board has a plurality of playing piece receptacles, with each receptacle having a playing piece support and a depression. By pressing part of the playing piece into the depression, easy removal of a playing piece can be achieved. The receptacles are formed when playing pieces are inserted in recesses that border each playing piece support. The recesses are defined at each end by a protrusion. The playing pieces can include an aesthetic dot in order to differentiate between which played used the playing piece.