This puzzle was created by Jakhob and wooferzfg. It is the ninth puzzle in the uN-Chained Puzzle Pack, which focuses on a Sudoku variant called N-Chains.
An N-Chain is a set of N cells in a row or column that point to each other in a path to form a cycle. Here is an example of a 5-Chain in a row:
The 7 points to column 7, which has a 4.
The 4 points to column 4, which has a 5.
The 5 points to column 5, which has a 3.
The 3 points to column 3, which has a 2.
The 2 points to column 2, which has a 7, completing the 5-Chain.
A pair of colored boxes in a row or column indicates that there is an N-Chain that stays between the boxes and includes both boxes. The length of the N-Chain is given in the top left corners of the boxes. Blue boxes show N-Chains in rows, and red boxes show N-Chains in columns.
Here is a 6x6 example puzzle:
Normal Sudoku and N-Chain rules apply.
Digits on a blue line cannot be between or equal to the digits on the diamond endpoints. Digits on directly connected endpoints must differ by at least 4. Digits may repeat if allowed by other rules.
Solution code: Row 1 followed by Row 6
on 10. March 2023, 06:30 by mnasti2
Pretty tricky but very cool!
on 22. February 2022, 02:43 by SirSchmoopy
the break in for this was absolutely amazing (and at least for me also quite difficult).