Vikram's occupational therapist suggested symbols instead of digits. He chose Superhero Squad. The 4×4 grid loaded with four superhero icons. He solved it under three minutes without a single hint. He hadn't done that with digits yet.
verified_user Symbol themes · No numbers required · Full game
PLAYER
HeroVikram_7
02:47
Solved unaided ✓
🦸 Superhero Squad · One hero per row & column
Vikram's occupational therapist had been working with him on symbol differentiation for several months. She noted that visual-spatial tasks that replaced numerals with pictorial distinctions reduced his working memory load significantly.
His mum found Kidoku Live and showed her the three theme options. Superhero Squad immediately stood out — four distinct superhero icons with high visual contrast. She showed Vikram on the tablet.
He asked: "Which hero goes which square?" She showed him the rule. Each hero appears once per row and once per column. He looked at the pre-filled cells. He started placing icons.
He completed the 4×4 in two minutes and forty-seven seconds. No hints. No restarts. No frustration spiral. He turned to show his mum and she was already coming over because she'd seen the timer on the leaderboard hit zero from across the room.
She messaged the OT that evening. The OT suggested moving to 6×6 with the same theme — adding two more heroes to extend the visual palette before introducing any symbolic (digit) mode.
Vikram is on 6×6 now. He chose the heroes to include. The logic works the same way. He can feel that he's getting faster — the leaderboard shows him what he couldn't feel on a printed worksheet.
Every game mechanic is identical. Only the symbols change. That's the point.
At kidoku.app/live, choose the Superhero Squad theme. Four visually distinct icons replace the digits 1–4 in the 4×4. Each icon is high-contrast and easily distinguishable.
Each hero appears exactly once in every row and every column. The constraint logic is identical to classic sudoku. Visual-spatial processing replaces digit processing.
Once symbolic solving is fluent, switching to Classic number mode feels natural — the logic is already internalised. Many children make this transition without noticing.
High visual contrast. Distinct silhouettes. Superhero icons scored highest in differentiation tasks across our test groups with visual-spatial learners.
Familiar, friendly icons. Animals work well for younger children or children who find superhero imagery over-stimulating. Strong shape differentiation.
Works well for interest-led learners with space as a special interest. Twelve distinct symbols available for grids up to 9×9 — consistent visual vocabulary across all sizes.
Superhero Squad · 4×4 Grid
Each hero appears exactly once per row & column
The symbol themes aren't decorative. They're an accessibility feature that happens to make the game more fun for every child.
High visual contrast — each icon is distinct in shape, not just colour
No digit processing required — the game is fully playable without engaging number symbol recognition
Same leaderboard — symbol mode players compete on equal terms. No separate bracket, no reduced difficulty.
Some children need a different door into the same room. The Superhero Squad theme is one of those doors.
Everything you need to know about Kidoku Live for this use case.
Yes. Kidoku Live's themed grids — Animals, Superheroes, and Space — replace all numbers with images. The logical rules are identical. Visual learners who struggle with numerical symbols can engage fully with the puzzle through the picture versions, often discovering a genuine aptitude for logical thinking they didn't know they had.
Yes. Occupational therapists and specialist teachers use visual sudoku with children who have dyslexia, dyscalculia, ADHD, and autism. The visual-spatial format removes the barrier of symbol recognition while preserving the cognitive benefit of logical reasoning. Kidoku Live is used in specialist educational settings for this reason.
The Superhero grid uses bold but static images on a clean white background. There are no animations, no sound effects, and no flashing elements during gameplay. The design is visually engaging without being visually overwhelming. Parents of sensory-sensitive children report that the clean interface is one of the reasons they prefer Kidoku to other children's puzzle games.
Yes, and this transition typically happens naturally. Children who become confident solving Animal or Superhero grids develop spatial scanning habits that transfer directly to Classic numbered grids. Many children independently switch to Classic 6×6 or 9×9 after two to four weeks on themed grids.
Many parents and therapists report positive experiences. Key features that work for ADHD: short session lengths (5–15 minutes), clear visual structure, immediate feedback on correct/incorrect placements, competitive stakes that sustain attention, and no ambiguity in rules. The Animal Grid 4×4 is particularly well-suited as the fastest version of the game.
The game is ready. The Superhero Squad theme is live. Pick four heroes. Place each one once per row and code. Solve it.
Symbol mode · No digits required · Full competitive game