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(Published on 22. March 2023, 13:49 by matt383)
1) Consider the 3x3 region in the center of the grid as a separate puzzle.
Place the numbers 1-3 exactly once in every row and column.
Maximum cell: The value in the grey cell is higher than its four orthogonal neighbours.
German Whispers: Adjacent digits along the marked lines have a difference of at least 2.
Keep the numbers that match their row number (1 from the first row, 2 from the second row, 3 from the third row). Remove the rest of the digits and zoom out.
Focus mode: F-puzzles | CTC App
2) Now consider the 5x5 region in the center of the grid as a separate puzzle.
Place the numbers 1-5 exactly once in every row and column.
Maximum cell rule still applies.
German Whispers now have a difference of at least 3.
Kropki: The two cells connected by a dot contain consecutive numbers.
Keep the numbers that match their row number (1 from the first row, 2 from the second row, ..., 5 from the fifth row). Remove the rest of the digits and zoom out.
Focus mode: F-puzzles | CTC App
3) Now consider the 7x7 region in the center of the grid as a separate puzzle.
Place the numbers 1-7 exactly once in every row and column.
Maximum cell, Kropki rules still apply.
German Whispers now have a difference of at least 4.
Anti-king: The same digit can not appear in diagonally adjacent cells.
Keep the numbers that match their row number. Remove the rest of the digits and zoom out.
Focus mode: F-puzzles | CTC App
4) Now you can solve the 9x9 puzzle.
Place the numbers 1-9 exactly once in every row, column and 3x3 box.
Maximum cell, Kropki, Anti-king rules still apply.
German Whispers now have a difference of at least 5.
Killer: The sum of numbers in each cage is equal to the number in the upper left corner of the cage.
If you are solving online, you'll find links for each layer in focus if needed, but you could just start on the 9x9 grid and solve the whole puzzle there. I recommend darkening the non-relevant cells while solving the smaller puzzles, and disabling conflict highlighting until you get to the 9x9.
F-puzzles: https://f-puzzles.com/?id=2dtauy96
CTC App: https://tinyurl.com/25rpv4mj
Have fun!
matyas
Solution code: Column 9
Comments
on 14. April 2023, 16:21 by OGRussHood
It's like a self-contained puzzle hunt. Such a remarkable construction.
on 23. March 2023, 22:43 by picoton
the 7x7 was insane. fortunately, i managed to solve it without bifurcation. thanks for your work
on 23. March 2023, 20:56 by Snookerfan
Great puzzle! The rules for puzzle 4 in the CTC-app don't mention that anti-king rules still aplly, so I stared at it for a very long time wondering what I was supposed to do. Thankfully I did not give up and found the rule on this page, because the puzzle is absolutely brilliant! Thank you
on 23. March 2023, 17:56 by Remman
Sat at this for about 1.5 hours alltogether and it was worth every second. Very fresh and new approach to sudoku! Loved it.
on 23. March 2023, 14:59 by CHalb
Wow, that's an extremely impressive construction!
on 23. March 2023, 12:39 by Ye Nay Myo Han
(Thank you)100000000000000000000000 for this puzzle!
on 23. March 2023, 11:39 by Ye Nay Myo Han
(Thank you)100000000000000000000000 for this puzzle!
on 23. March 2023, 01:47 by fuxia
Amazing puzzle. Loved every step.
on 22. March 2023, 18:18 by Knickolas
What a cool idea and amazing execution of it!! I loved how cute it started and how challenging it ended :)
on 22. March 2023, 15:53 by Playmaker6174
I'm greatly amazed and also terrified as well at how you even managed to achieve such a puzzle like this, that must've taken lots of tinkering at the time...
Absolutely wonderful and astonishing, another gem belong to the grand puzzle museum there! Take a great bow Matyas, and also hello Simon! :-)
on 22. March 2023, 14:42 by Steven R
Brilliant!
