1. Scission
Normal sudoku rules apply (fill each row, column, and 3x3 box with the digits 1-9 once each), and all clues are standard.
Cages: the sum of the digits inside each cage is equal to the small number in the top left corner.
Thermometers: digits on thermometers increase from the bulb.
Very rough difficulty estimate: 2/10
Play online: SudokuPad | unshaded
New to variant sudoku? Check out these beginner-friendly guides to cages and other popular rulesets.
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2. Guidestones
Normal sudoku rules apply (fill each row, column, and 3x3 box with the digits 1-9 once each), and all clues are standard.
Entropic lines: along orange lines, every set of three adjacent cells contains one low digit (1-3), one middle digit (4-6), and one high digit (7-9).
Digits in cells separated by a white dot are consecutive.
Digits in cells separated by a black dot have a 1:2 ratio.
Very rough difficulty estimate: 6/10
Play online: SudokuPad
3. Cuttlefish
Normal sudoku rules apply (fill each row, column, and 3x3 box with the digits 1-9 once each), and all clues are standard.
Renban lines: purple lines contain a non-repeating set of consecutive digits in any order.
Quadruple circles: a digit inside a white circle appears in one of the four cells surrounding that circle.
Digits in cells with a shaded circle are odd.
Very rough difficulty estimates: 7/10, 6/10
Play online: SudokuPad
Extra clues: SudokuPad
Prime Week Bonus Puzzle!
In which you’ve been given all the clues—you just have to work out where they go. I’m calling this one Do It Yourself, for obvious reasons.
Normal 6x6 sudoku rules apply within the dark-outlined grid (fill each row, column, and 3x3 box with the digits 1-9 once each).
Construct the puzzle by placing each clue inside the grid. Clues cannnot be rotated or reflected, and cannot overlap or intersect another clue.
Cages: the sum of the digits inside the cage is equal to the small number in the top left corner.
Arrows: the sum of the digits along the arrow is equal to the digit in the connected circle, and these digits can repeat if allowed by other rules.
Thermometers: digits on the thermometer increase from the bulb.
Region sum lines: box borders divide the blue line into segments with the same sum.
Renban lines: the purple line contains a non-repeating set of consecutive digits in any order.
Very rough difficulty estimate: 5/10
Play online: SudokuPad
Note: I suggest using the pen tool to draw clues into the grid. If you don’t see it, check the SudokuPad settings to make sure it’s enabled.
Some other puzzles I enjoyed this week:
Working in Tandem, by PrissyP
Summilarity, by Marty Sears
Wasp line, by Aeon
note: very difficult, at least for me
Also, check out Irwell, from Volume 239, on Cracking the Cryptic!
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This week’s meta-description:
This being a prime week kind of snuck up on me, so you’re going to have to assemble the prime bonus puzzle yourself.
For premium subscribers, hints and two more bonus puzzles are below.
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