Four Finger Death Punch
(Published on 11. October 2024, 01:09 by Killer Joe)
HUGE thanks to Cracking The Cryptic for featuring this puzzle.
Watch on Youtube: Cracking The Cryptic
Note: There is a second version of this puzzle titled 'Five Finger Death Punch' that has the exact same solution and has been published on LMD earlier. I revisited this puzzle thanks to a weekly prompt by Scojo that said: create a loop puzzle with maximum 10 clues in the grid. Removing one circle to fit the prompt made the break in more interesting and the overall solve better in my opinion. I wasn't sure if I was going to post it but now that CTC featured it, it seemed like a no brainer. Enjoy.
Hello
Normal 9x9 sudoku rules apply.
Draw a 1-cell wide loop that moves strictly orthogonally and doesn't branch or intersect itself. The loop doesn't touch itself, not even diagonally.
The loop acts as a german whispers line. Neighbouring digits on the loop must have a difference of at least 5.
A digit in a circle indicates how many times that digit must appear in circles.
The circled digits also indicate how many of the up to 8 surrounding cells are on the loop.
Circles are never on the loop.
Have fun.
click image to play in sudokupad
Solution code: row 2, box 1. 3 digits.
Comments
on 12. October 2024, 22:55 by mattjhussey
Simpler than it appeared. Was it intended for the result digits to be got with a big chunk of the puzzle incomplete? - Not intended. I don't think that someone would only finish the puzzle halfway because the solution code is available. I could be wrong though. - Jonesy.
on 11. October 2024, 19:51 by Lovejoy
I loved this. Thanks
on 11. October 2024, 18:27 by damo_89
Wonderful
on 11. October 2024, 12:51 by permafrostyx
yay loopy
on 11. October 2024, 11:56 by Dag H
Gorgeous puzzle, really impressive setting.
on 11. October 2024, 01:58 by Kawkaz
Very nice and approachable.
Good intro to circled digits
