Caged by a Secret Killer
(Published on 23. February 2024, 04:33 by PhoenixAki)
Caged by a Secret Killer
Oh no, you've been locked inside a sudoku grid by a crazed maniac who gets thrills out of forcing people to complete logic puzzles. Use your wits as well as knowledge of some sudoku "secrets" to break free. Puzzle creator is not liable if the puzzle breaks during your escape.
Rules:
- Place the digits 1-9 in each row, column, and 3x3 box.
- Cells in cages sum to the total in the top left corner. In this puzzle, cage totals are given as letters, whose value must be deduced. Each of the 4 letters has a unique sum (i.e. A can't be the same as C G or E).
- Digits can not repeat along the 2 diagonal lines.
- Cells connected by a green line must differ by at least 5.
- Cells connected by a white dot are consecutive.
- Inequality signs (> or ^) point to the smaller of the 2 digits.
This is my first puzzle, I hope you enjoy it! My estimated difficulty of 2 stars is based on a few gracious testers saying it was a slight step above approachable.
Solution code: Column 4, from top to bottom, as a 9-digit string
Comments
on 7. April 2024, 21:28 by Q-Rog
Nice construction. Thanks!
on 4. April 2024, 23:58 by wuc
Found it easier than most 2 star. Cool puzzle thx.
on 28. March 2024, 05:46 by CcmarvMD
Absolutely beautiful puzzle, from deducing the cages to the way the german whispers got involved on the diagonals, just absolutely WOW. Amazing puzzle!
on 26. February 2024, 07:46 by PhoenixAki
Thanks to everyone who solved it so far! I did not expect ~120 solves in only ~2 days and I'm glad it's well-received. I have a few ideas for future puzzles but I don't currently have enough time to make any more, I expect that to change by around April or May :)
on 23. February 2024, 22:16 by Virux
Really really nice. Smooth sailing the whole way through. Lovely break-in with really fun math. A wonderful debut as a puzzle setter. Hope you will make another one similar to this one. Really fun to solve
on 23. February 2024, 16:24 by One Eyed Man
Really enjoyed this. Great construction and smooth solve.
on 23. February 2024, 16:24 by Xexxis
I thought this was excellent, even more impressive if it was your first released puzzle! Well done!
on 23. February 2024, 15:45 by VitP
A little bit of math in my life
A little bit of math by my side
A little bit of math's all I need
A little bit of math's what I see
A little bit of math in the sun
A little bit of math all night long
A little bit of math, here I am
1,2,3,4,5
8,9,10,11,12
... G-A = 4
on 23. February 2024, 11:23 by Fra314
Well constructed and super fun!
on 23. February 2024, 06:13 by rameshsrivats
Very nice puzzle.
on 23. February 2024, 04:42 by PhoenixAki
edit: made small addition to description
