If you scroll through Steam’s new releases, it is easy to miss the quiet, cerebral games among the flashy action titles. But for fans of pure logic, a new challenger has entered the ring. Dotu, developed by the memorably named studio Chicken Undercover, launched this week, and it is already turning heads in the puzzle community [web:42]. If you love the satisfaction of balancing a Sudoku grid or solving a Picross puzzle, this might just be your next obsession.
The concept is deceptively simple: place numbers on a grid so that the rows and columns match their required sums. But as any puzzle veteran knows, “simple” is just code for “devastatingly addictive.” Let’s break down why this indie title deserves a spot in your library.
What Exactly is Dotu?
At its core, Dotu is a number-placement game. You are presented with a grid and a set of target numbers for each row and column. Your job is to fill the cells so that the math works out perfectly. It sounds like homework, but in practice, it flows like a relaxing meditation [web:42][web:43].
The developer, Chicken Undercover, has packed the game with over 200 handcrafted levels, ensuring that you won’t run out of brain-teasers anytime soon [web:42]. Unlike procedurally generated puzzles that can sometimes feel soulless or unfair, these levels are designed to guide you through specific logical tricks and “aha!” moments.
Features That Keep You Thinking
Dotu starts easy but quickly introduces mechanics that throw a wrench in your mental gears. It is not just about adding up positive integers. The game introduces layers of complexity that require you to think several moves ahead.
- Negative Numbers: Just when you think you have the math down, negative numbers appear to subtract from your totals, forcing you to rethink your strategy [web:42].
- Locked Cells: Some grid spaces are fixed, acting as anchors—or obstacles—around which you must build your solution [web:42].
- Interconnected Cells: Changing a number in one cell might affect another linked cell across the board, adding a spatial reasoning element to the arithmetic [web:42].
- Multiple Solutions (For Now): Currently, some puzzles allow for multiple valid solutions, giving you some creative freedom, though a “unique solution” mode is in the works for purists [web:42].
Why It Stands Out
In a genre flooded with mobile ports and cash grabs, Dotu feels like a labor of love. The “Chicken Undercover” moniker might suggest something silly, but the game design is serious business. It scratches that specific itch for order and precision that games like Hexcells or Tametsi are known for. Plus, it is designed to be a chill experience—no timers ticking down to stress you out, just you and the grid [web:42][web:60].
Quick Specs
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Developer | Chicken Undercover |
| Release Date | November 26, 2025 |
| Genre | Logic Puzzle / Strategy |
| Platform | Steam (PC) |
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Dotu released?
Dotu was officially released on Steam on November 26, 2025 [web:41][web:44].
Who developed the game?
The game was developed and published by an indie developer going by the name Chicken Undercover [web:41].
Is it difficult?
The game has a gentle learning curve. It starts with simple addition but ramps up the difficulty with negative numbers and locked cells as you progress through the 200+ levels [web:42].
Does it have a single unique solution?
Currently, some puzzles can be solved in multiple ways, but the developer is working on a mode that enforces a single unique solution for a tighter logical challenge [web:42].
What platforms is it available on?
Right now, Dotu is available exclusively on PC via Steam. There is no word yet on console or mobile ports [web:41][web:51].
Conclusion
Dotu is a fantastic entry in the logic puzzle genre, offering a fresh twist on the classic “sums and grids” formula. Whether you are looking to kill ten minutes or lose an entire afternoon to “just one more level,” it delivers. Support indie development and give your brain a workout—check out Dotu on Steam today.