Hey, Good Game Crafting the Perfect Puzzle: James Sinclair on Handcrafted, Variant Sudoku
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Nov 4, 2025 
James Sinclair, a former immigration lawyer and the brain behind Artisanal Sudoku, dives into the captivating world of handcrafted variant Sudoku puzzles. He reflects on his unexpected journey into puzzle creation, emphasizing his design philosophy that prioritizes handcrafted logic over AI. James discusses the community-building aspect of his Substack newsletter, explores innovative puzzle mechanics like dynamic fog, and shares plans for Sudoku Con. He also touches on audience growth, monetization strategies, and the satisfaction derived from crafting engaging puzzles.
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Sudoku As A Multitasking Habit
- James started doing Sudoku in college because it let him follow lectures while solving puzzles.
- He found numbers easy to process and used Sudoku as a multitasking tool during class and podcasts.
Variants Give Numbers Meaning
- Variant Sudoku gives digits semantic meaning through extra rules like sums or consecutive runs.
- James argues that variants make numbers feel alive compared to interchangeable symbols in classic Sudoku.
Start With Genuinely Approachable Sudoku
- Try GAS (Genuinely Approachable Sudoku) for an approachable path into variant Sudoku.
- Use their daily puzzles and walkthrough videos to learn one rule at a time before advancing.
