How to Play

Quick, clear directions for each puzzle type.

Wurdoku (Word Sudoku)

Each Wurdoku contains a hidden word of up to 9 letters. Fill the grid according to the puzzle’s rules, then reveal the secret word.

Complete the grid using the allowed letters for this puzzle (similar in spirit to Sudoku constraints).
When the grid is correct, find the hidden word.
The hidden word will be no longer than nine letters.

Tip: If your revealed letters don’t form a valid word, recheck duplicates or conflicts in rows/columns/regions.

Wurdoku solved example — Solution example with hidden word revealed.

Key & Door Mazes

Unlike typical mazes, some passages are blocked by doors that only open after you have collected the matching key.

Start at the maze’s entrance.
Collect three keys (each key matches a specific door by color or symbol).
You may only pass through a door after you’ve picked up its matching key.
Open all three doors and navigate to the exit to complete the maze.

Backtracking will be common.
If you get stuck at a door, trace back to find the corresponding key first.

Maze with keys and doors example — Example maze featuring three keys and three doors.

Word Finder

The online version lets you practice spotting words; the print books add a twist with fill-in-the-blank prompts that correspond to words hidden in the grid.

Scan the letter grid to find the target words.
Words may be placed horizontally or diagonally (never backwards).
For book puzzles, write each found word into its matching blank to complete the passage.

Tip: To understand the origin of a quoted passage in a puzzle, you can use a search or an AI assistant to help identify the source text.