Hints when you want them
Hints live on the play pages. When you want one, it explains a next step that is already forced. It is a sentence about the board, not a score.
You do not have to use them. Beginner boards are meant to yield to the first scans in the how-to. A hint is there for a stuck cell, or for a band that is new to you.
A hint is not a ladder of technique names. It does not rank you. It points at one deduction, then gives the board back.
Use a hint when sitting longer would only spin. Skip it when you still enjoy looking. Both are allowed.
How to play Sudoku · How to play Star Battle · How to play Binary Puzzle