# Pencil Sudoku: Variant Puzzles — Solve in your own handwriting > Handwriting-based Sudoku solver with numerous variants and customizable tools. (iPhone/iPad app by Erin Sosnoski.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pencil-sudoku-variant-puzzles/id6795323287 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Erin Sosnoski](https://appshunter.io/developer/6788219734) - Category: Games, Lifestyle, Casual, Puzzle - Price: Free with in-app purchases - Rating: 5.00/5 from 2 App Store ratings - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 17 · 11 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2026-08-20 - Data updated: 2026-10-24 - Monetization: free with in-app purchases ## What is Pencil Sudoku? Solve sudoku the way it was meant to be solved: with a pen in your hand. Pencil Sudoku is built around Apple Pencil. Write your digits and notes directly on a paper-like board, and the app reads your handwriting - learning YOUR handwriting as you play, so recognition keeps getting better. No keyboard between you and the puzzle. Prefer tapping? A complete touch mode is built in, and on iPhone the whole app is designed for it. 43 PUZZLE TYPES Classic sudoku plus a deep library of variants: Killer, Thermo, Kropki, XV, Windoku, Irregular, Diagonal, Arrow, Renban, German Whispers, Palindrome, Skyscraper, X-Sums, Little Killer, Clone, Fortress, Odd-Even, Quadruple, Mathrax, Greater Than, and many more — over 300 puzzles, organized by family so you can find your favorites. MADE FOR SOLVERS • Handwriting recognition that adapts to you — private, on-device, never uploaded • Every note style: corner, center, grid, and Snyder notation • Draw links between candidates for chains and coloring techniques • Bookmarks and rewind to explore bifurcations without losing your place • A customizable favorites bar — your tools, your colors, your layout • Digit spotlight, number lock, and completion shading for fast scanning HELP ONLY WHEN YOU WANT IT Hints escalate gently and never judge — from a nudge toward the right area to a full technique walkthrough. Every assist can be switched off. The app never fills in a cell for you. EASY ON THE EYES A warm, paper-like board designed for long sessions. YOUR DATA STAYS YOURS No accounts, no tracking, no data collection. Your handwriting model lives on your device. Start free. One simple one-time purchase unlocks unlimited play — no subscription, ever. ## Key features - Handwriting recognition for digits and notes - Over 40 Sudoku variants - Customizable tools and layout - Gentle hint system - Paper-like board design - Private, on-device data processing ## Pricing and in-app purchases Base price: Free. **One-time purchases** | Purchase | Price | Type | | --- | --- | --- | | Sudoku Pro | $3.99 | one-time | ## Is Pencil Sudoku safe? Not enough ratings yet to assess Pencil Sudoku. ## Is Pencil Sudoku legit? Pencil Sudoku: Variant Puzzles has limited verification signals. The AppsHunter Legitimacy Score for Pencil Sudoku is 58 out of 100 points across 7 verification signals from App Store and developer data. ## Frequently asked questions about Pencil Sudoku ### Does Sudoku Every Day have ads? No, Sudoku Every Day is ad-free. The app is free to start and offers a one-time purchase to unlock unlimited play. ### How does Sudoku Every Day recognize handwriting? Sudoku Every Day uses on-device handwriting recognition that learns your unique writing style. This ensures your data remains private and is never uploaded. ### What types of Sudoku puzzles are available in Sudoku Every Day? Sudoku Every Day offers over 40 puzzle types, including Classic Sudoku, Killer, Thermo, Kropki, XV, Windoku, Irregular, Diagonal, Arrow, and many more, organized by family. ### Can I use Sudoku Every Day offline? The description does not explicitly state offline capabilities, but the focus on on-device processing and no tracking suggests it is designed for offline use. ### What devices support Sudoku Every Day? Sudoku Every Day is available on iPhone and iPad, with a design optimized for both touch and Apple Pencil input. ### How does the hint system in Sudoku Every Day work? The hint system in Sudoku Every Day is designed to be gentle and escalates gradually. You can choose to receive a simple nudge or a full technique walkthrough, and all assists can be switched off. ### What is the age rating for Sudoku Every Day? Sudoku Every Day has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for a wide range of players. ### Is there a subscription for Sudoku Every Day? No, Sudoku Every Day does not have a subscription. A single one-time purchase unlocks unlimited play after the free trial. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 1.3 — 2026-10-18 117 new puzzles across 13 variant families — fresh Diagonal, Argyle, Battenburg, Fortress, Outside, Search Nine boards and more. Look for the “new” markers in your library. Automatic pencil marks — let the app maintain candidates for you, with your own marks always in control. Plus refinements throughout. ### 1.2 — 2026-10-08 A new name. Sudoku Every Day - Pen & Paper is now Pencil Sudoku: Variant Puzzles. Same app, same paper, same puzzles, just a name that better says what this is. Everything you've solved and earned stays exactly as it was. Completion celebrations. Finish a puzzle and the board now lights up - a wave of ink washing across the grid in one of twelve patterns, drawn in one of five ink palettes. Cages, thermometers, and lines join in on variant boards. Each puzzle has its own choreography, and the colors change with every solve. A tap skips it, and a gentler version honors Reduce Motion. Also in this update: Fixed an issue with the Clear button's erase scope Small refinements throughout Happy solving. ### 1.1.2 — 2026-09-30 Two new puzzle types join the collection! Parity Lines — lines that alternate between odd and even digits as they travel across the board Point-to-Next — follow the arrows: each one points toward where the next digit lives Also in this update: Dozens of new hand-crafted boards across the catalog, including new Killer, Irregular, and line-variant puzzles Bigger, clearer pencil marks: center and candidate notes are now easier to read on both iPhone and iPad iPad layout fix Happy solving! ### 1.1.1 — 2026-09-25 Fixed an issue where a hint could suggest an incorrect elimination on some variant puzzles. ### 1.1 — 2026-08-25 What's New (1.1) The big one: Sudoku Every Day now has 41 puzzle types - up from 3. • 37 new variants, 40 total: Killer, Thermo, Kropki, XV, Windoku, Irregular, Little Killer, Clone, Skyscraper, X-Sums, Renban, German Whispers, Arrow, Diagonal, Greater Than, and many more • iPhone support - a tap-optimized layout built for one hand, with the full variant library • The variant library is organized into families (Lines, Outside Clues, Cages, and more) with collapsible sections • A candidate-linking tool for chain and coloring techniques • Smarter notes: choose whether conflicting notes are kept, marked, or removed automatically • Digit completion shading on the number pad • Dozens of refinements to tools, the favorites bar, and pen-mode handwriting Thanks for playing - more puzzles are on the way in every update. ## Apps similar to Pencil Sudoku | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Sudoku Pencil & Paper](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sudoku-pencil-and-paper/id6801818300) | — | Free | Games | | [Pencil Number Place](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pencil-number-place/id6776687870) | — | Free | Games | | [Paper, Pen, Sudoku!](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/paper-pen-sudoku/id1614014342) | — | Free | Games | | [Sudoku Note](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sudoku-note/id6757120330) | 3.5 (2) | Free | Games | | [Paper Sudoku >](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/paper-sudoku/id6752555594) | 5.0 (4) | Free | Games | | [Apparent Sudoku](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/apparent-sudoku/id1518508009) | 3.4 (10) | Free | Games | ## More apps by Erin Sosnoski - [RollCall by Afield Apps](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rollcall-by-afield-apps/id6788219732) All apps by Erin Sosnoski: https://appshunter.io/developer/6788219734 ## Related topics [erin in](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/erin-in) --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-10-24.*