Belts in Sudoku Royale are a weekly league that ranks you for the sudoku you already play. There is no belt match to enter and no separate mode to open. Every correct cell you fill earns shurikens, and at the end of each week the players with the most shurikens in your belt move up one belt, while the players with the fewest move down. This page covers the eight belts, how shurikens are counted, and how promotion works.
The eight belts
The belts follow the colour order used in martial arts, and the app calls them Kyū belts, after the Japanese grading system:
- White
- Yellow
- Orange
- Green
- Blue
- Purple
- Brown
- Black
Everyone starts at White. The higher belts open in stages as the league fills up, and the Belts tab marks any belt that is not open yet as coming soon.
How you earn shurikens
Shurikens are the league's points. You earn them for every correct cell you fill, in any mode, so a Daily Challenge, a Classic puzzle, a Journey level, a drill, or a live match all count. Some sources count for more than others, and the app shows the rates openly so you can decide where to spend your time.
| Where you solve | Shurikens per correct cell |
|---|---|
| Daily Challenge | Full value (1 per cell) |
| Live matches (optional) | Full value (1 per cell) |
| Classic Easy | 0.3 |
| Classic Medium | 0.5 |
| Classic Hard | 0.7 |
| Classic Expert | 0.9 |
| Classic Master | 1.1 |
| Classic Extreme | 1.3 |
| Technique drills | 0.25 |
Two bonuses sit on top. Finishing an assignment from Sensei, the app's built-in coach, pays a flat 48 shurikens. And in Journey, levels cleared while you hold the Meijin title pay double.
The rates are graded so that harder work pays more. An Easy puzzle is quick and pays little per cell, while an Expert or Master puzzle takes longer and pays close to the full rate. The Daily Challenge is the best value for a few minutes of play, since it pays full rate on every cell and there is one every day.
How promotion and relegation work
The league runs on the UTC week, which resets every Monday at 00:00 UTC. When the week closes:
- The top 20% of active players in each belt move up one belt.
- The bottom 20% move down one belt, and so does anyone in the belt who did not play that week.
- Everyone else stays in their belt for the next week.
The key point is that you are racing the other players in your belt, not a fixed target. A strong week in a quiet belt can move you up with fewer shurikens than a strong week in a busy one. You can check your position any time on the Belts tab, which shows who is just ahead and how far you are from the promotion line. If you turn on Belt Results in settings, the app tells you where you finished when the week closes.
Try Sudoku Royale
The classic sudoku you know, without the ads, the pop-ups, or the clutter. A fresh Daily Challenge, unlimited practice with no timer, and technique drills. When you want a rush, race 2 to 18 players on one shared grid.
Download Sudoku Royale: Free on iOSHow to climb a belt each week
- Play every day. Missing a whole week drops you a belt, and a daily puzzle alone keeps you active. The Daily Challenge also pays full rate per cell.
- Play the hardest Classic level you enjoy. Each step up raises what a cell is worth, and harder boards have more empty cells to fill. The guide to the six Classic levels explains how to unlock the higher ones.
- Work through Journey. Its puzzles count like any other, and holding Meijin doubles them.
- Watch the promotion line late in the week. If you are just below it on Sunday, one or two extra puzzles is often enough.
Belts and the Elo rating
Belts measure how much you played well this week. They are separate from the Elo rating used in the optional live matches, which measures results against other players. You can reach a high belt without ever playing a live match. For everything else in the app, see the overview of Sudoku Royale.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do belts work in Sudoku Royale?
Belts are a weekly league. Every correct cell you fill earns shurikens. When the week resets on Monday at 00:00 UTC, the top 20% of active players in each belt move up one belt, and the bottom 20%, plus anyone who did not play, move down.
What are the belt colours in Sudoku Royale?
White, Yellow, Orange, Green, Blue, Purple, Brown, and Black. Everyone starts at White, and the higher belts open in stages.
Do I need to play live matches to earn a belt?
No. The Daily Challenge, Classic puzzles, Journey levels, and drills all earn shurikens. The Daily Challenge pays the same full rate per cell as a live match.
What happens if I miss a week?
If you do not play during a league week, you move down one belt when the week closes.
When does the belt league reset?
Every Monday at 00:00 UTC, the same moment for every player.