Statedoku

Statedoku crosses a 3×3 grid with the map of the United States. Each row carries one constraint and each column another, and each cell awaits a state that satisfies both at once. The constraints mix types: regions and subregions, demographic data, borders, spelling of the name, with a “?” on some labels to give the exact definition used. A state can be used only once and the grid has a single solution.

1. Read the three row constraints and the three column constraints, opening the “?” on those whose definition is not obvious.
2. Tap a cell: the selector reminds you of the two crossed constraints as badges and opens a search field that requires at least four letters.
3. Enter a state. Green means it is correctly placed; red means it does not fit that cell.
4. Fill the nine cells without reusing a state, following the x / 9 counter at the top of the screen.

The idea is clever because it doesn’t test map memorization but the ability to cross attributes. Knowing where Alaska is is useless here; knowing that it is simultaneously huge, sparsely populated, coastal and starts with A is useful. And because the solution is unique, the grid is solved as much by logical elimination as by general knowledge.

Immediate and cell-by-cell: green validation for a correct placement, red for an incorrect state, without waiting for the end of the grid. The counter at the top moves from 0 / 9 as cells are filled, and a selected cell remains highlighted in light blue until you commit.

Grille du jour

A dated daily grid, displayed with the day of the week at the top of the page.

Archive

The footer opens previous grids.

• Attack the narrowest constraint first. Some narrow the list to a handful of states, others leave dozens: starting with the latter is to condemn yourself to backtracking.
• Each state can be used only once, so a state that would fit two cells at once is a trap: save it for the one where it has no replacement, otherwise you block the other cell.
• The “?” placed on some labels gives the exact definition retained by the game. Read it before assuming what a political or demographic constraint covers, because those divisions vary from one source to another.
• The search field requires four letters before it suggests anything: think of the state’s full name, not its two-letter postal code.