KATADOKU
About Katadoku
9 squares. Many ways of thinking.
Katadoku began with a simple idea: to create logic challenges on a 9-square grid that encourage us to stop, think and find a solution for ourselves.
How Katadoku began
We are surrounded by instant answers, and we have more and more tools that solve things for us. That is why I think it is especially important to keep exercising skills such as reasoning, attention, the ability to connect information and perseverance when facing a problem.
That is exactly what Katadoku is about: turning the effort of thinking into something enjoyable. Some challenges are solved straight away and others can put up quite a fight, but part of the game is turning them over a few times until you reach that moment when everything finally falls into place.
Its name combines “kata” (型), a Japanese term related to form and patterns, with an ending that recalls classic Japanese logic games.
Who is behind Katadoku?
Hi, I’m Andrea
The idea came from my interest in logic games and in those activities that achieve something especially difficult: making us stop, observe and think before answering.
Although Katadoku began as a personal project, I’m not building it alone. My students and colleagues are also part of how it evolves. Testing the challenges, asking questions, spotting what doesn’t work or sharing an idea helps me improve what already exists and keep shaping the project.
Thinking can be trained too
It’s not about guessing.
It’s about observing, connecting information, testing hypotheses and reaching a reasoned solution.
Each Katadoku calls on different skills. Sometimes you’ll need to interpret a clue carefully; at other times, find your way around the grid, rule out possibilities or change strategy when something doesn’t fit.
Without even noticing, you’ll be practising deductive reasoning, careful reading, spatial awareness and perseverance.
Because that’s the idea: training your mind while you enjoy trying to solve the challenge.
Deductive reasoning
Form hypotheses, test them against the clues and rule out possibilities until only one remains.
Careful reading
A single word, such as “between”, “near” or “not”, can change everything. Every detail counts.
Spatial awareness
Orient, place and connect elements on a grid: rows, columns, directions and diagonals.
Persistence
Making mistakes is part of the process. Review your decisions, try another strategy and get closer to the solution.
9 squares, many ways to play
Katadoku began with a format based on placing nine items on a 3×3 grid by following a series of clues.
But those nine squares had much more to offer.
So new ways to play gradually appeared: placing items by following clues, reconstructing routes, investigating case files or taking on chess-inspired challenges.
Today Katadoku brings together several game modes, each with its own rules and mechanics, but they all share the same starting point: 9 squares and a challenge to solve. From there, the way you play changes, and so does the path to the solution.
Katadoku can also find its way into the classroom
Although Katadoku is designed for anyone who enjoys logic challenges, its format also makes it suitable as a classroom activity.
Solving a Katadoku can help students work on following instructions, logical reasoning, spatial orientation, argumentation or finding different strategies for the same problem.
