Unboxing (11x11 deconstruction)
(Published on 13. December 2024, 20:15 by jwsinclair)
Unboxing, by James Sinclair
Fill the grid with nine non-overlapping 3x3 square regions, such that each region contains the digits 1-9 once each and no digit repeats in any row or column. Cells outside regions do not contain digits.
Each cage must contain digits that sum to the given total, and digits cannot repeat within a cage.
Along the green line, each digit must differ from the next digit on the line (ignoring any empty cells) by at least 5.
Digits along a purple line, if any, are a non-repeating consecutive set and can appear in any order.
Digits along a gold line, if any, are a non-repeating set and no two digits on the same line may be consecutive with each other.
A digit inside a white circle must appear in one of the four cells surrounding that circle.
A cell with a gray circle must *not* contain an even digit.
SudokuPad
I set this puzzle in December 2023 for the Secret Santa event on the CtC Discord server, as a gift for JayForty. The Secret Santa puzzles are distributed on Christmas Day (and the creators are not allowed to reveal themselves until later), and given this puzzle's theme I felt like it would be awkward to publish it in early-January, so instead I set a reminder to myself to publish it now (with Jay's permission, of course). Enjoy!
Solution code: row 3, with 0 in place of any cell without a digit (11 digits)
Comments
on 8. February 2025, 00:51 by Nootato
Really well composed! Got stuck a couple times but 2 hours happily spent.
on 14. January 2025, 11:24 by MCMCHammer
A really nice combination of logic, felt like you were always relying on something different to help decide the box placement.
on 19. December 2024, 15:00 by LehanLehan
What a tasty treat, thank you very much,James.
on 19. December 2024, 04:41 by ViKingPrime
What a beautiful grid. This is sudoku art at its finest (and with beautiful logic to match!)
on 17. December 2024, 10:43 by JayForty
Thank you once again for this lovely gift that keeps on giving. I plan to unbox it again this Christmas!
on 16. December 2024, 20:24 by StephenR
Thanks for this pre-Xmas present.
on 15. December 2024, 15:47 by henrypijames
Tough break-in, the rest is almost too easy by comparison.
on 15. December 2024, 11:12 by henrypijames
Is the golden cross one branching line, or two lines?
--
One line
on 14. December 2024, 17:13 by Playmaker6174
Ah, what a time to revisit this gift again! I was glad to test this one for you back then and it still felt great to 'unbox' this gift again one year later ;)
on 14. December 2024, 16:59 by Franjo
Through unboxing I found an amazing puzzle - must be a present for me… Thank you so much for such a generous gift! Merry Christmas!
on 14. December 2024, 13:34 by Snookerfan
Excellent and fun puzzle! Thank you
on 14. December 2024, 13:22 by samuel1997
Stunning puzzle! Love the symmetry in it! Merry Christmas!
on 14. December 2024, 06:59 by sorryimLate
Very nicely done, and Merry Christmas!
on 14. December 2024, 06:50 by askaksaksask
Wonderful puzzle, james! A bit challenging for the newsletter ;) super fun setting: the pressure on the solve path comes from a fun variety of places, and never feels stale. An early gift indeed!
