Sudoku Royale vs Sudoku Master: Offline, Grids and Ads

Sudoku Master by Malpa Games wins on two things: it plays fully offline, and it has 6x6 and 16x16 grids as well as the classic 9x9. It is free with ads (its App Store age rating says so), and sells a No Ads purchase from $6.99 and a Sudoku Premium option. Sudoku Royale is 9x9 only and needs a connection for some modes, but it has no ads, nothing to buy, a sixth difficulty level and a full course of technique lessons.

So the choice turns on where and how you play. On a plane with no Wi-Fi, or if you want a 16x16 marathon, Sudoku Master does what Royale cannot. If you play at home and want to improve without paying to remove ads, Royale is the better deal.

The App Store facts

From each app's US App Store listing, checked October 26, 2026. Prices and paid items change, so check the listing before you buy.

Feature by feature

Offline play

Sudoku Master's listing promises a full offline mode for travel and commuting, and it is one of the few things it states plainly. If you often play without a signal, that matters more than anything else on this page.

Sudoku Royale is only partly offline. Practice keeps working with the puzzles already downloaded for each level, and the Journey plays offline once its map has loaded. The Daily Challenge, the Dojo drills, hints and the weekly Belts league need a connection. Our offline sudoku app guide covers the apps that work entirely without the internet.

Grid sizes

Few sudoku apps offer more than one board size, and Sudoku Master offers three. 6x6 is a gentle start for children or anyone new to sudoku. 16x16 needs sixteen symbols in every row, column and box, so one puzzle can take far longer than a 9x9. Sudoku Royale has only classic 9x9: no 6x6, no 16x16 and no variants such as killer or diagonal. For a tour of the other formats, see sudoku variants explained.

What the ads cost to remove

The App Store lists Sudoku Master's No Ads purchase from $6.99, and a separate Sudoku Premium item at $7.99, $39.99, $2.99. The listing does not explain what Premium adds over No Ads, so compare them in the app before buying. There is also a paid hints offer. Apple's privacy label for the app lists data used to track you across other companies' apps and websites.

Sudoku Royale has no ads, no purchases and no account requirement. The only shop sells avatar outfits for shurikens you earn by solving.

Learning to solve harder puzzles

Sudoku Master describes itself as "structured, focused training" for logic, memory and concentration, with five levels up to Master. The listing does not mention technique lessons. That is Sudoku Royale's main strength. Its hint names the move you are missing (a hidden single, a naked pair) rather than filling in a number. The Journey covers one technique per chapter across 88 levels, and the Dojo runs timed drills from Full House up to Swordfish and XY-Wing. Royale also has an Extreme level above Master.

Where Sudoku Master is the better pick

• You play without internet. Its full offline mode is the clearest advantage.
• You want 6x6 or 16x16. Royale has neither.
• You want the app in another language. It lists 12 languages; Royale's app is English only.
• You want more ratings behind your choice. It has been out since 2024 with 17,466 US ratings, against Royale's 11.

Where Sudoku Royale is the better pick

• No ads, without paying to remove them.
• Lessons, drills and a coach. The teaching is built in and free.
• A daily puzzle you can compare. The Daily Challenge has streaks, a leaderboard and an archive of past days.
• A sixth level. Extreme sits above Master.

Bottom line

Choose Sudoku Master for offline play and unusual grid sizes, and budget for its No Ads purchase if ads bother you. Choose Sudoku Royale for classic 9x9 with no ads and a real path to harder techniques: get it on the App Store. If you are already leaving Sudoku Master, our Sudoku Master alternatives sort the options by reason, and the comparisons hub has every other matchup.