C++ Sudoku Game

An implementation of the famous Sudoku puzzle in a Windows console using C++. This is a console-based Sudoku game implemented in C++ with interactive gameplay, difficulty levels, and a scoring system.

Features

Multiple Difficulty Levels

• Easy: 2 cells deleted (Just For Illustration)
• Intermediate: 54 cells deleted
• Hard: 63 cells deleted
• Random Difficulty: Removable N cells, adjustable by setting difficultyOffset.

Interactive Gameplay

• Keyboard navigation: Arrow keys to move through the grid.
• Cell selection and editing: Space bar to select or edit a cell.
• Timer tracking: The game tracks time taken to complete.
• Score calculation: Based on time and number of deleted cells.

Puzzle Generation

The puzzle follows a specific generation pattern designed for ease of solving. This pattern was developed when I was 13 years old.

Game Controls

User keyboard interactions:

• Arrow Keys: Navigate grid
• Space: Select/Edit cell
• Backspace: Delete cell content
• Enter: Confirm solution
• Esc: Exit game

Scoring

Score is calculated based on:

• Number of deleted cells
• Time taken to solve the puzzle

Dependencies

This program uses the C++ Standard Library, and only one external library: Windows-specific console input (<conio.h>).

Code for console input (via <conio.h>):

#include <conio.h>  // Contains functions for non-buffered console input (_getch() on Windows)

// Example usage to capture a key press
char key = _getch();
if (key == 27) { // 27 is ASCII for the Esc key
    exitGame(puzzleSolved);
}

Compilation

Compile the program with a C++ compiler that supports C++11 or later:

g++ -std=c++11 sudoku.cpp -o sudoku

Running the Game

Run the compiled game:

./sudoku

Limitations

• Currently designed for Windows (uses <conio.h>).
• Console-based interface.
• Requires console with ANSI color support.

Code for ANSI color output:

const string ANSI_RESET = "\033[0m";
const string ANSI_RED = "\033[1;31m";
const string ANSI_YELLOW = "\033[1;33m";
const string ANSI_PURPLE = "\033[1;35m";
const string ANSI_ORANGE = "\033[38;5;208m";
const string ANSI_GREEN = "\033[1;32m";
const string ANSI_D_BLUE = "\033[38;5;23m";
const string ANSI_FLAME = "\033[38;5;202m";

Future Improvements

• Improved generation pattern.
• Cross-platform support.
• Persistent high score storage.
• More sophisticated puzzle generation.
• Hints and solver assistance.

License

MIT License

Author

Taj Othman