Sudoku Variants Series (403) - Downhill
(Published on 20. December 2024, 12:00 by Richard)
Downhill
Inspiration for this type comes from Chilly Take the Low Road and It's All Downhill From Here.
Solve online in Penpa+ or in Sudokupad.
Apply classic sudoku rules.
A digit in a cell with an arrow must be larger than all the digits in the direction of the arrow.
Solution code: Row 8, followed by column 2
Comments
on 20. January 2025, 00:25 by SirWoezel
One of my favourites in the series.
on 24. December 2024, 07:15 by TheNineElements
Solve Time: 62:50
I rated this 3/5 difficulty
Another great puzzle from Richard! Thank you for sharing so many wonderful and unique Sudoku variants and introducing the community to so many new ideas and variants.
I thought this puzzle was between 2-3/5 difficulty. However, it took quite a while for me to get a grasp of how this constraint worked. I spent around 10 minutes in the break-in without placing any digits and just playing around with the constraint geometry, but once I figured out the nature of restricted digits, the rest of my solve felt smooth and well paced.
Despite the logic feeling around 2-3/5 difficulty, this puzzle took me quite a bit longer than that difficulty range, so I decided to tilt my rating to 3/5 difficulty. With that being said, I don't think my longer solve time reflected the difficulty or complexity - rather it felt more of a reflection of my inexperience with this variant and the need for me to have to learn new tricks to solve the puzzle. The logic felt approachable throughout, and I feel like this could be reasonably solved by a low-intermediate solver - but it has a learning curve that isn't present when playing more familiar puzzles.
I always love playing new sudoku variants, and this series has thus far been very fun to me. This puzzle was another great addition. Thanks for sharing!
---
Reply: Thanks for your nice, kind and detailed feedback! It was interesting to read and I recognized what you experienced. :-)
I know that I am in a 'niche-market' with SVS, without sky-rocketing numbers of solves, so it is good to read that I am still on the right track (also looking at all the other comments to this puzzle.)
on 23. December 2024, 03:14 by PinkNickels
The ending was quite fantastic with the triples left and the coloring that cleaned it up. Bravo.
on 22. December 2024, 01:30 by yttrio
Such a simple rule set, yet containing so many fun deductions along the way!
on 21. December 2024, 18:23 by Nordy
Awesome!
on 21. December 2024, 17:29 by glum_hippo
Fantastiske Taschentuch!
on 21. December 2024, 14:10 by Franjo
Fantastic puzzle with a perfect setting and an interesting constraint - again. Thank you very much for creating and sharing this lovely gem.
on 21. December 2024, 02:17 by Qodec
Excellent!
on 20. December 2024, 17:34 by marcmees
very nice. thanks
on 20. December 2024, 16:37 by Myxo
Wow, I loved this! Straight to the favourites.
on 20. December 2024, 16:05 by Krokant
This is a fun constraint. Thanks for introducing me to this. :)
on 20. December 2024, 15:06 by Snookerfan
Lovely puzzle! This was not a constraint I handled very well, but when it all resolved in the end, it was very rewarding. Thank you
on 20. December 2024, 12:58 by goodcity
Great one !
