Procedurally generated puzzles · Mistake tracking · Hint system · Backtracking solver
| Menu | Gameplay | Mistake Highlight |
|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
| Multiple Mistakes | Console Version |
|---|---|
 |
 |
| Version | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| 🖥️ | SudokuSFML.cpp | Full graphical window · mouse input · colour feedback |
| ⌨️ | SudokuConsole.cpp | Terminal-based · ASCII grid · keyboard row/col/value input |
- 🎯 Difficulty select screen — Easy, Medium, Hard with colour-coded buttons
- 🎲 Procedurally generated unique puzzles every game
- 🔴 Real-time mistake highlighting — wrong cells flash red instantly
- 💡 Hint system — 3 hints per game to reveal a correct cell
- 📊 Live HUD — Mistakes counter + Hints remaining displayed at top
- 🔢 Number pad — clickable 1–9 bar at the bottom of the board
- 🖱️ Mouse-click cell selection — click any cell to select it
- 📐 ASCII 9×9 grid with 3×3 box dividers
- 🔢 Row / col / value input format (
row col valueor0to exit) - ✅ Validation — rejects invalid placements immediately
- 🔀 Shuffled puzzle generation for variety each run
- 🧠 Backtracking solver used internally for generation
1. Fill diagonal 3×3 boxes with shuffled 1–9
2. Solve the rest using recursive backtracking
3. Remove cells based on difficulty level
4. Validate every player input against the solution
void alot(int**& a) // Allocate 9×9 dynamic grid
void del(int**& a) // Deallocate and nullify grid
bool valid(int** p, int r, int c, int x) // Check placement validity
void shuffle(int* arr, int n) // Fisher-Yates shuffle for randomness
bool solve(int** p) // Recursive backtracking solver
void generate(int** p) // Build a full valid board
void print(int** p) // Render ASCII board (console)| 🟢 Easy | 🔵 Medium | 🔴 Hard |
|---|---|---|
| More clues revealed | Balanced reveal | Fewer clues — harder deduction |
| Great for beginners | Moderate challenge | For experienced solvers |
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Background | Dark navy (#0d1b2a) for reduced eye strain |
| Grid lines | Blue-tinted cell borders with bold 3×3 box outlines |
| Given numbers | White — placed at puzzle generation |
| Player numbers | Light blue — numbers entered by the player |
| Hint numbers | Cyan — cells revealed by hint |
| Wrong cells | 🔴 Red background — immediate mistake feedback |
| Number pad | 1–9 buttons along the bottom edge |
Sudoku/
│
├── 📄 SudokuSFML.cpp ← Graphical version (SFML window + mouse)
├── 📄 SudokuConsole.cpp ← Console version (terminal + keyboard)
│
├── 📄 README.md
└── 📄 LICENSE
🐧 Linux / 🍎 macOS
# Clone
git clone https://github.com/Abd-Abdullah83/Sudoku.git
cd Sudoku
# Compile
g++ -std=c++17 SudokuSFML.cpp -o sudoku \
-lsfml-graphics -lsfml-window -lsfml-system
# Run
./sudoku🪟 Windows (MinGW)
g++ -std=c++17 SudokuSFML.cpp -o sudoku.exe ^
-lsfml-graphics -lsfml-window -lsfml-system
sudoku.exe# No dependencies — just compile and run
g++ -std=c++17 SudokuConsole.cpp -o sudoku_console
./sudoku_consoleNote
The SFML version requires SFML 2.x.
- Ubuntu →
sudo apt install libsfml-dev - macOS →
brew install sfml - Windows → sfml-dev.org
1. Select difficulty — Easy / Medium / Hard
2. Click a cell on the board to select it
3. Click a number (1–9) from the bottom pad to place it
4. Wrong placements highlight red and add to mistake count
5. Use hints (💡 3 available) to reveal a correct cell
1. The board is displayed as an ASCII grid
2. Enter: row(1-9) col(1-9) value(1-9)
Example: 1 3 7 → places 7 at row 1, column 3
3. Enter 0 to exit
4. Invalid moves are rejected with an error message
The puzzle generator uses a recursive backtracking algorithm:
• Try placing digits 1–9 in each empty cell
• Check row, column, and 3×3 box constraints via valid()
• If no digit fits → backtrack to previous cell
• Repeat until the board is fully solved
• Remove cells to create the player's puzzle
This guarantees every generated puzzle has a unique valid solution.