Sudoku for Windows 1.8

Sudoku for Windows is a game using the popular brain teaser from Japan, in which you have to have all of the numbers - 1 through 9 - included in every column, row, and box. It provides games from very easy to very hard, and a number of optional helps to fit your level of competitiveness. There are two ways of inputting numbers into the grid - one is to select the cell and choose what number you wish to put there; the other way is to choose the number you want to deal with and then select the cells where you want that number to go.

The skilled puzzler can choose between these two for the advantages in both. In the "number to cell" view you have the option of having Sudoku for Windows highlight, where else on the grid the number your have selected is. This program also gives you the option of automatically showing the candidates for each cell (it does not allow for doing this manually, which takes out some of the fun) so that you can see which numbers can possibly go in a given cell. There is also the choice of having Sudoku for Windows highlight cells where the number is a duplicate of a different cell in the same row, column, or box, as well as the choice to have your progress checked for incorrect entries (this can be done automatically as well).

For when you are really stumped, you can get a hint. This will fill in a random box with the correct number. You have got as many hints as you want or you can simply click 'solve' and Sudoku for Windows will show the solution. You can even save and load games if you wish to try again later. Two downsides, however, of this program are that it does not allow you to use your keyboard for inputting notes which would speed up your work, and that it does not come with a timer. Besides that, Sudoku for Windows is a nice program with various levels of competitiveness available.