NYT Games Sudoku Gameplay Refresh
NYT Games Sudoku Gameplay Refresh
A classic logic game that requires little introduction, Sudoku is one of the few number-based games within the New York Times portfolio. As an associate product designer on the Games team, I led designs for a refresh of NYT Sudoku’s gameplay, introducing highly-requested features that improve interactivity and giving players more power in how they solve puzzles.
A classic logic game that requires little introduction, Sudoku is one of the few number-based games within the New York Times portfolio. As an associate product designer on the Games team, I led designs for a refresh of NYT Sudoku’s gameplay, introducing highly-requested features that improve interactivity and giving players more power in how they solve puzzles.
ROLE
Product Designer
ROLE
Product Designer
DURATION
Fall 2024 – Released March 2025
DURATION
Fall 2024 – Released March 2025
MAIN COLLABORATORS
Robert Vinluan
Sandra Honigman
MAIN COLLABORATORS
Robert Vinluan
Sandra Honigman
TOOLS
Figma
TOOLS
Figma
PROBLEM
PROBLEM
Sudoku players expected flexible functionality while solving puzzles.
Sudoku players expected flexible functionality while solving puzzles.
The preexisting Sudoku game board had no ability to highlight a selected cell’s same row, same column, same grid, and same number regions—an expectation in most digital Sudoku products.
The preexisting Sudoku game board had no ability to highlight a selected cell’s same row, same column, same grid, and same number regions—an expectation in most digital Sudoku products.
Research also revealed that even regular players of other NYT games often flocked to other Sudoku apps because they expected more context on incorrectly filled cells, gameboard highlighting, and more.
We had recently also introduced dark mode in Sudoku for iOS players, which proved to be a new opportunity to reevaluate the game’s color usage and settings options.
Research also revealed that even regular players of other NYT games often flocked to other Sudoku apps because they expected more context on incorrectly filled cells, gameboard highlighting, and more.
We had recently also introduced dark mode in Sudoku for iOS players, which proved to be a new opportunity to reevaluate the game’s color usage and settings options.
SOLUTIONS
SOLUTIONS
A new feature set aiming to help players choose how much context they saw while playing.
A new feature set aiming to help players choose how much context they saw while playing.
While I am unable to publicly showcase many of the design decisions and user insights behind the feature set, this case study will still outline the features below.
If you want to chat more about designing with gameplay UX in mind, please reach out!
While I am unable to publicly showcase many of the design decisions and user insights behind the feature set, this case study will still outline the features below.
If you want to chat more about designing with gameplay UX in mind, please reach out!
FEATURE SET SHOWCASE
FEATURE SET SHOWCASE
Flexible cell highlighting
Flexible cell highlighting
Added cell highlighting flexibility was the top requested feature based on user interviews and product feedback. Players frequently noted that the NYT’s Sudoku fell short where when they clicked on a cell, they hoped to see highlighting for its related row, column, grid (surrounding 9x9 space), and even identical numbers already on the board.
Added cell highlighting flexibility was the top requested feature based on user interviews and product feedback. Players frequently noted that the NYT’s Sudoku fell short where when they clicked on a cell, they hoped to see highlighting for its related row, column, grid (surrounding 9x9 space), and even identical numbers already on the board.
With the introduction of dark mode on mobile and an increased need for different shades, I also had to select a set of light and dark mode tokens that accounted for sufficient contrast and accessibility.
With the introduction of dark mode on mobile and an increased need for different shades, I also had to select a set of light and dark mode tokens that accounted for sufficient contrast and accessibility.
Players can select any combination of which highlights—row, column, grid, same numbers—they wanted to see for each puzzle, allowing for a tailored experience.
Players can select any combination of which highlights—row, column, grid, same numbers—they wanted to see for each puzzle, allowing for a tailored experience.
Error counter
Error counter
Previously, players could only see incorrect inputs after turning on autocheck, or when there was an identical number already in the same row, column, or grid. For more advanced players, seeing a lower error count was also an additional statistic to feel competitive about.
Previously, players could only see incorrect inputs after turning on autocheck, or when there was an identical number already in the same row, column, or grid. For more advanced players, seeing a lower error count was also an additional statistic to feel competitive about.
We introduced a low-friction error counter that players could choose to hide if they did not find this statistic useful for their gameplay.
We introduced a low-friction error counter that players could choose to hide if they did not find this statistic useful for their gameplay.
Undo button
Undo button
Players requested an undo button alongside the number inputs for quicker and more seamless entries.
Players requested an undo button alongside the number inputs for quicker and more seamless entries.
Redesigned settings modal
Redesigned settings modal
In order to give players full reign over deciding how they want to use the new features, our final step was to redesign the Sudoku settings screen.
This was also an opportunity to examine previous settings and reword certain entries in a way that made sense alongside the new features.
In order to give players full reign over deciding how they want to use the new features, our final step was to redesign the Sudoku settings screen.
This was also an opportunity to examine previous settings and reword certain entries in a way that made sense alongside the new features.
Pictured above is a proposal for an updated Sudoku settings modal that also aimed to serve as a template for a future game-agnostic settings template. The overall project has not yet been implemented, but the general structure for Sudoku settings is currently live.
Pictured above is a proposal for an updated Sudoku settings modal that also aimed to serve as a template for a future game-agnostic settings template. The overall project has not yet been implemented, but the general structure for Sudoku settings is currently live.
OUTCOME + TAKEAWAYS
OUTCOME + TAKEAWAYS
The new Sudoku feature set drove an increase in the number of puzzles played after launch.
The new Sudoku feature set drove an increase in the number of puzzles played after launch.
The feature bundle was released to March 2025! I am unable to share specific numbers, but as a personal retrospective:
The feature bundle was released to March 2025! I am unable to share specific numbers, but as a personal retrospective:
1
Stay inquisitive.
It's hard to pin UX design for puzzle gameplay into an expected workflow. While figuring out ways to prototype the highlighting interactions, I found myself having more fun when I embraced an open mind.
Stay inquisitive.
It's hard to pin UX design for puzzle gameplay into an expected workflow. While figuring out ways to prototype the highlighting interactions, I found myself having more fun when I embraced an open mind.
2
Don't drive yourself into bottle necks.
Many of the features were extremely interaction-heavy! When figuring out what highlighting format worked the best or what Undo button placement did not feel jarring, I found it extremely helpful to take a step back or seek feedback from fresh eyes.
Don't drive yourself into bottle necks.
Many of the features were extremely interaction-heavy! When figuring out what highlighting format worked the best or what Undo button placement did not feel jarring, I found it extremely helpful to take a step back or seek feedback from fresh eyes.
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