Sudoku Game Review

Sudoku Game Review : What is the best electronic su doku game on the market? (March 22, 2006)

Electronic handheld su doku games present a format in which the consumer can have a virtually unlimited amount of fresh su doku puzzles in a highly portable package. Unfortunately, there are dozens of similar units out there. We set out to answer the question: where is the consumer’s $20-$30 best spent on getting their su doku fix?

The vast majority of the su doku models out there are very similar: most companies like the multi-button unit that resembles a Nintendo Game Boy. But the problem we found is that the labels on the buttons are impossibly small and hard to read. We have to keep in mind that su doku appeals to people on both sides of the age spectrum. Easy reading is important. Also, getting from one side of the screen to another on these multi-button models requires pressing a button eight times. That gets old fast. After much deliberation, we decided we prefer the touch screen models. The highest quality of these is SuDoku Go!, with a bright, backlit design and compact design. It’s now featured on the Top Ten List on TVTopTen.com.

The SuDoku Go! unit is the highest quality unit that we have seen and played with. We tested a number of samples from various factories in China, many of which can already be seen on TV, found on websites and on the shelves in toy stores. Most of these were less enjoyable and made playing more like a chore.

What’s cool about SuDoku Go! is the fact that you can actually read the numbers on the screen and not have to constantly adjust yourself to see the screen. This would seem trivial, right? After reviewing a number of models, believe us when we say it’s not. With SuDoku Go!, reading the screen was easy and painless. This unit has the largest, clearest numbers and offers a white back-lit LED screen (a blue-lit version is also available) that is crystal clear. You have to turn on the light most of the time, but that’s the case with every model we tested.

The look of the SuDoku Go! is also unique. It looks just like a Palm PDA with its silver casing and size. This fact will make SuDoku Go! a hit with kids because it kids look like they are cool enough to have a PDA when they’re really playing a game. For the professionals, well, let’s be honest…it looks like you’re working while you’re really sneaking in a few numbers on a su doku puzzle. The dimensions are 4.5 x 3 x .5 inches, making it small enough to fit in the bottom of a purse or a small pocket in a backpack. Beats carrying around a pencil, eraser and a newspaper….

At just under $20 ($29.90 including shipping), we couldn’t find a better unit than the SuDoku Go!. It’s the best looking, the best working and the best value for an electronic su doku on the market. For these reasons, in addition to the fact that SuDoku Go! is already more popular than anything else on TVTopTen.com, we have ranked it #1 on the Top Ten List.

We spent our time looking for the best electronic su doku so you don’t have to. Check out #1 on our March and April Top Ten Lists the SuDoku Go! at www.tvtopten.com/sudoku.
-Review by Michael, TVTopTen.com