About Pandoku
Pandoku is a "Queens"-style logic puzzle in the style of Meowdoku, one of the fastest-rising puzzle games on the App Store. It mixes the neat constraints of Sudoku with a gentle, cozy theme.
Each level uses a new board size, climbing from a 5×5 Easy board to 10×10 Super Hard boards and then Difficult levels where the size changes every time.
Pandoku at a glance
| Genre | Logic game |
|---|---|
| Price | Free, no download or sign-up |
| Controls | Tap and drag |
| Typical game length | 2 to 10 minutes per level |
| Lives | 3 per level |
| Works on | Phones, tablets and computers, in any modern browser |
| Daily challenge | Yes, the same puzzle for everyone each day |
How to play Pandoku
- Read the rules. One panda per row, per column and per colored area. No two pandas can touch.
- Mark impossible squares. Tap a square once to mark it with an ✕.
- Seat a panda. Tap an ✕ again to place a panda when you are sure.
- Fill the board. When every row, column and color has its panda, you win the level.
Rules
- A wrong panda costs a heart. You get 3 hearts on every level.
- Auto ✕ is on by default: after each panda, it crosses off every square that panda rules out. You can turn it off at any time.
- Drag across squares to mark or clear many ✕ at once.
- Hints make a correct square glow for a small point cost.
Levels and difficulty
Levels 1 and 2 are Easy (5×5 and 6×6), 3 and 4 are Hard (7×7 and 8×8), 5 and 6 are Super Hard (9×9 and 10×10), and from level 7 every level is Difficult with a changing board size.
Scoring
You earn points for each correct panda, plus a bonus for each solved level that grows with board size and speed. Harder tags multiply the points. Daily challenge scores can be shared with friends.
Tips and strategy for Pandoku
- Start with the smallest colored area. If it only fits in one row or column, that line is decided.
- Remember that a panda rules out all 8 squares around it.
- If two colors are confined to the same two rows, no other color can use those rows.
- Use ✕ marks generously. Most of the puzzle is about ruling squares out.
- When stuck, count: every row, column and color needs exactly one panda.
How we built and tested Pandoku
Every Pandoku board has exactly one solution. Our generator builds a hidden solution, grows colored areas around it and then reshapes the areas until a solver confirms there is no second solution. We tested this on every size from 5×5 to 10×10, and even the largest boards generate in under a second.
Frequently asked questions
Can Pandoku be solved without guessing?
Yes. Every board has exactly one solution, so it can always be solved with logic.
What does Auto ✕ do?
After each correct panda, it automatically marks every square that panda rules out.
Is this the same as Meowdoku or LinkedIn Queens?
It uses the same classic rules, with our own panda theme, level ladder and mascot.