Sudoku has been the king of number puzzles for decades. But there's a challenger gaining ground: Make 24. If you're looking for something fresh—or wondering which puzzle gives you the best brain workout—this head-to-head comparison will help you decide.
The Case for Sudoku
Sudoku is a logic puzzle at heart. Despite using numbers 1-9, it doesn't actually involve arithmetic. Instead, it tests your ability to recognize patterns, use elimination, and maintain focus across a 9×9 grid.
Cognitive benefits of Sudoku:
- Pattern recognition: Spotting where numbers can and can't go
- Spatial reasoning: Tracking rows, columns, and 3×3 boxes simultaneously
- Sustained attention: Maintaining focus through lengthy puzzles
- Working memory: Holding multiple possibilities in mind
Sudoku is also wonderfully accessible. The rules are simple, difficulty scales smoothly from beginner to expert, and puzzles are everywhere—newspapers, apps, books.
The Case for Make 24
Make 24 takes a different approach. You're given four numbers and must combine them using addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division to reach exactly 24. Unlike Sudoku, this is pure arithmetic—but with a creative twist.
Cognitive benefits of Make 24:
- Arithmetic fluency: Active practice with all four operations
- Creative thinking: Multiple solutions require flexible approaches
- Number sense: Deep understanding of how numbers relate
- Algebraic preparation: Thinking backwards from a target answer
Make 24 is also faster. A single puzzle takes 30 seconds to 3 minutes, making it perfect for quick brain breaks. Learn more about strategies in our Make 24 strategy guide.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Aspect | Sudoku | Make 24 |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Skill | Logic & Patterns | Arithmetic & Creativity |
| Time per Puzzle | 10-60 minutes | 1-3 minutes |
| Math Required | None (pure logic) | All 4 operations |
| Multiple Solutions | No (one answer) | Yes (often 5-20+) |
| Best For | Long focus sessions | Quick brain breaks |
| Age Range | 8+ to adult | 10+ to adult |
🧠
Mapping
the Mind
Neurological Mapping: Logic vs. Arithmetic
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) reveals distinct neural pathways for spatial logic and active arithmetic. While both games engage the brain's executive networks, they activate fundamentally different clusters of specialized neurons.
📊 Neurological Activation Profile
| Brain Region | Sudoku Focus | Make 24 Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Parietal Lobe | Spatial Mapping | Numerical Magnitude |
| Frontal Cortex | Complex Logic | Executive Function |
| Working Memory | Visual Hold | Active Recalculation |
The Visuospatial Sketchpad
Solving Sudoku requires the brain to recruit the right hemisphere's visuospatial sketchpad. fMRI data shows sustained activation in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC), which manages complex rule-holding and pattern recognition without computational fatigue.
Primary focus: Logic & PersistenceThe Central Executive
In contrast, Make 24 triggers the Central Executive system and the Intraparietal Sulcus (IPS). As you rapidly cycle through combinations, your brain performs "active rehearsal," constantly updating information in the working memory under pressure.
Primary focus: Mental Speed & AgilityThe Neuroplasticity Trade-off
The choice between Sudoku and Make 24 is a trade-off in neuroplasticity. The slow, sustained logic required by Sudoku helps fortify deep myelin sheaths around established neural pathways, improving long-term cognitive endurance.
Meanwhile, the rapid-fire, variable arithmetic found in Make 24 promotes aggressive synaptic pruning and the creation of new connections, fostering fluid intelligence and mental agility.
Which Is Better for Your Brain?
The honest answer? Both. They train different cognitive skills, so combining them gives you the most complete mental workout.
Choose Sudoku if you:
- Want to improve logical deduction
- Enjoy longer, meditative puzzle sessions
- Prefer puzzles with a single definitive answer
- Want to boost spatial reasoning
Choose Make 24 if you:
- Want to sharpen mental math skills
- Have limited time (perfect for breaks)
- Enjoy finding creative solutions
- Are preparing for or reinforcing algebra concepts
How Hard Is Each Game?
Difficulty in Sudoku scales smoothly and predictably. Beginner grids can be solved using only one technique — scanning — while expert and fiendish grids require advanced methods like X-Wings, Swordfish, and hypothesis chains. The difficulty curve is well-defined, and most published puzzles are graded clearly.
Make 24's difficulty is less predictable and often more surprising. Some four-number combinations have five or more solutions — easy. Others have exactly one solution that requires a non-obvious sequence of operations, or demands using fractions mid-calculation. The notorious combination 3, 3, 8, 8 is a classic example: the only solution is 8 ÷ (3 − 8 ÷ 3) = 24, which stumps most players on first encounter. That element of surprise is a big part of Make 24's charm.
- Easy → Medium → Hard → Expert
- Clearly graded in every format
- Techniques build on each other
- Harder = more moves to solve
- 1-dot (easy) to 3-dot (hard) cards
- Hard combos need fractions or unusual order of operations
- Some combos have 10+ solutions; some have just 1
- Difficulty can surprise even experienced players
The Best Strategy: Variety
Research on brain health shows that cognitive benefits plateau when you do the same activity repeatedly. Your brain gets efficient at Sudoku specifically—which is great for Sudoku, but limited for overall cognitive fitness.
Mixing puzzle types forces your brain to adapt. Consider a rotation: Sudoku for your longer morning session, Make 24 for a midday break, and Daily Equation to unwind in the evening.
Ready to Expand Your Puzzle Repertoire?
If Sudoku has been your only number puzzle, Make 24 is the perfect complement. If you've never tried either, start with whichever appeals most—then branch out. For even more variety, check out our guide to 5 brain exercises better than Sudoku. The goal isn't to replace one with the other; it's to give your brain the varied workout it craves.
🎯 Try Make 24 now
Challenge yourself with our free Make 24 puzzle—it takes less than 3 minutes, and you might discover a new favorite.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Sudoku actually involve maths?
No. Despite using the digits 1–9, Sudoku is a pure logic puzzle. The numbers are interchangeable with any nine symbols — letters, shapes, colours — and the solving process involves zero arithmetic. It tests pattern recognition, elimination, and spatial reasoning exclusively.
Who invented the Make 24 game?
The standardised version was created by Robert Sun, a Chinese-American inventor, in 1988. Inspired by a childhood card game from Shanghai, he designed the distinctive square cards and introduced the game to US classrooms, where it became a widely used maths enrichment tool.
Is Make 24 good for kids?
Yes — it was designed specifically as a classroom tool. Research on the 24 Game shows it builds arithmetic fluency, number sense, and comfort with all four operations without the stress of drills or worksheets. The single-dot cards are accessible from around age 8 upward.
Can I get better at Make 24 with practice?
Significantly. With regular play you start recognising high-value patterns — for example, that reaching 24 via 3 × 8, 4 × 6, or 2 × 12 covers the vast majority of solutions. Once those anchors are internalised, you spend less time testing random combinations and more time constructing paths to a known target.