Rellik Rallye
(Published on 27. February 2024, 20:23 by sujoyku)
I like to thank CaptZebraCakes for testing the puzzle and helping to formulate the rules in a more precise and comprehensible manner. Please feel free to ask in the comments if anything still is unclear. I wish you happy solving!
- Normal sudoku rules apply.
- Minimum/Maximum: A digit in a minimum (resp. maximum) cell is strictly smaller (resp. greater) than a digit in any orthogonally adjacent cell.
- Arrows: Digits on an arrow sum to the digit in the circle from which the arrow emerges.
- Kropki dots: Digits joined by a white dot must be consecutive. (Not all dots are given.)
- Rellik Path: Draw a path from R1C1 to R8C9 that meets the following conditions:
1) The path only moves orthogonally. It is continuous, never branches and never touches itself orthogonally or diagonally. Moreover, the path visits EACH 2x2 square in the grid.
2) Each indicated minimum and maximum cell is on the path. Cells containing an arrow or any circle (including arrow circles but not Kropki dots) CANNOT appear on the path.
3) A digit in a circle indicates the number of cells surrounding the circle (orthogonally and diagonally) which are on the path. This rule ALSO includes circles with emerging arrows.
4) In each 3x3 box, the cells on the path form one orthogonally connected component. In box N, the cells on the path form a Rellik Cage with given value N. (The boxes are listed from left to right and top to bottom; i.e. Box 1 is in the top left, Box 9 in the bottom right etc.) Any combination of one or more digits within a Rellik Cage CANNOT sum to the given value. For example, the Rellik Cage in Box 6 cannot contain (1,2,3), (1,5), (2,4) or a single 6.
Here you can solve the puzzle online:
Solution code: Row 5 from left to right (9 digits in total)
Comments
on 5. March 2024, 05:19 by coreydixon
Very fun! Rules look long, but very well explained and easy to grasp. Got stuck for a bit before realizing I hadn’t considered the min/max rule for the end cells of the path! My fault for putting a symbol in those cells to remind myself of the start-end points early on and forgetting about them.
**
Thank you for your comment, coreydixon! I am glad that you had a fun solve and that, despite their length, you found the rules comprehensible. I think it is easy to get stuck when there are so many details to keep track off. So don't be too hard on yourself. :)
Kind regards, sujoyku
on 29. February 2024, 21:18 by LeaVulpina
I had the whole path filled in and a third of the digits, and was wondering why I couldn't make progress when I realised that it's ANY combination of cells, not any combination of ADJACENT cells that can't sum to N. Suddenly everything made a lot more sense lol. Lovely puzzle.
**
Thank you for your comment, LeaVulpina! I am glad that you liked the puzzle. And you are right: The Rellik condition is a really strong constraint. As the sum may involve any subset of digits there are a lot of options that need to be avoided.
Kind regards, sujoyku
on 28. February 2024, 01:45 by gfoot
I found this very approachable, after understanding the rules - a nice fun solve with the next step fairly easy to find at each stage
**
Thank you for your comment, gfoot! I am glad that you found the puzzle approachable and had a fun solve.
Kind regards, sujoyku
on 28. February 2024, 01:01 by CaptZebraCakes
Great puzzle, and thanks for letting me test solve it! Although the rules were long, they were easy to grasp and didn't detract from the solve. I highly recommend others give this puzzle a try!
**
Thank you for your comment and for recommending the puzzle, CaptZebraCakes! I am glad that you enjoyed the solve.
Kind regard, sujoyku
