Hidoku Puzzles with Numbers 1-9
These free printable 1-9 hidoku puzzles (available in 4 different levels) are the perfect introduction to this fun type of number-based logic puzzle.
I recently got a request from a teacher of elementary gifted students for some smaller hidoku puzzles that could be used to introduce younger students to the concept of a hidoku puzzle.
Don’t be fooled by the small size of these puzzles, though. The challenging level puzzles are still quite a brain workout even for older puzzle solvers!
Have a different shape or size of hidoku puzzle your students might be interested? Send me an email, and I might be able to make it happen!
This puzzle is just one of many printable hidoku logic puzzles that I have created for my own classroom and am sharing with you!
Be sure to check out my entire collection of free printable logic puzzles.
What are Hidoku Puzzles?
Hidoku Puzzles (originally published as Hidato Puzzles) are the creation of Dr. Gyora M. Benedek, an Israeli mathematician. The Hebrew word “hida” means riddle. In a hidoku puzzle, you are given a grid with a selection of the numbers already filled in.
Your task is to fill in the missing numbers so that each number connects to the next number either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. 1 must connect to 2, 2 must connect to 3, and so on.
When I use Hidoku Puzzles with students, I often have them draw in the lines between the numbers in order to help them check their solutions.
1-9 Hidoku Puzzle Instructions
Fill in the missing numbers in the grid so that each number connects to the next number either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.
For these specific puzzles, students are arranging the numbers from 1 to 9 in the 3×3 square-shaped grid so that consecutive numbers touch either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.
You could definitely think of this puzzle as making a “chain of numbers.”
Four Levels of Puzzles and Printing Options
These 1-9 hidoku puzzles are available in four different levels: Easy, Medium, Hard, and Challenging.
As the levels progress, you are given fewer and fewer numbers on the grid to begin with. This means that much more logic is required to solve the puzzle.
These hidoku puzzles are available to print as one single puzzle per page or four puzzles to a page. In the version with four puzzles to a page, all four puzzles on a single page are of the same level of difficulty.
1-9 Hidoku Puzzle Files
These 1-9 hidoku puzzles are available as a PDF or as an editable PowerPoint file.
Full Size Puzzles (1 to a Page) PDF
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1-9 Hidoku – 1 to a Page (PDF)
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Small Puzzles (4 to a Page) PDF
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1-9 Hidoku – 4 to a Page (PDF)
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Editable Powerpoint Files in ZIP Folder
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1-9 Hidoku (Editable PPT Files in ZIP)
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Puzzle Solutions
Puzzle solutions are available on a password-protected solution page. I do not openly post the puzzle answer keys because one of my goals as a resource creator is to craft learning experiences for students that are non-google-able. I want teachers to be able to use these puzzles in their classrooms without the solutions being found easily on the Internet.
Please email me at sarah@mathequalslove.net for the password to the answer key database featuring all of my printable puzzles and math worksheets. I frequently have students emailing me for the answer key, so please specify in your email what school you teach at and what subjects you teach. If you do not provide these details, I will not be able to send you the password.
Not a teacher? Go ahead and send me an email as well. Just let me know what you are using the puzzles for. I am continually in awe of how many people are using these puzzles with scouting groups, with senior adults battling dementia, or as fun activities in their workplace. Just give me enough details so I know you are not a student looking for answers to the puzzle that was assigned as their homework!
