Blade Runner
(Published on 14. March 2025, 23:39 by Kafkapharnaum)
Huge thanks also to chrisj50 for having also tested multiple versions and helped strengthen some core ideas from the first version. dopplperschg
RULES
DOPPELGANGER
– Every row, column, and region must contain the digit 0 always, as well as eight out of the nine digits from 1 to 9 (ie, it will be missing one digit that is not 0).
– No two rows, no two columns, and no two regions may be missing the same digit.
– For each 0 in the grid, the digits missing in its row, its column, and its region must be three different digits.
LOCKOUT LINES
– Digits along a line connecting two diamonds may not be equal or between the digits in the diamonds at the endpoints of that line.
– Digits in two diamonds directly connected by a line must differ by at least 4.
– Lines extending across multiple boxes can contain repeated digits if the other rules allow it.
SOLVING LINKS
Solve on Sudokupad
Solve on Penpa
Solution code: Column 4 (top to bottom)
Comments
on 11. January 2026, 22:46 by SennyK
What a wonderful puzzle it was! I had so much fun, thank you for creating this gem!
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Thanks so much for the kind words and for getting this one over the line, much apprciated -- thrilled to hear you enjoyed it, and actual congrats on beating this beast after having just very recently discovered Lockout Lines! :O
Despite his humility, Bodemeister contributed significantly to what this puzzle ended up being, so I very much recommend trying his puzzles, and especially his Chaos Constructions!
on 24. December 2025, 00:41 by War
Fun one, not too hard, excellent break in logic, wasn't expecting to get digits as fast as I did, especially the Box 2 missing digit
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Thanks a lot for the kind words, glad you enjoyed the puzzle! I see that you already solved many of Bodemeister's puzzles, so it's no surprise then that you'd have a good grasp of the ruleset and find this one here not too hard after that haha, but still, well done! :D
on 25. March 2025, 01:47 by bodemeister
@wullemuus
To be fair this puzzle was 100% designed by Kafka and not a co-op. I just tested a couple versions.
on 23. March 2025, 13:45 by wullemuus
Glad about your new cooperation- I really would have missed something without any more DG puzzles ;)!
The lockout lines make it intricate for you have to work for every deduction (nothing else I expect from Bode's influence;)). But the solving path is very narrow and well constructed.. A pleasure as always!
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Thank you for the solve and feedback, glad to see you solve one of these again, and glad also that you enjoyed! The Lockout Lines really are they're own thing eh, haha XD
will likely have another offering in the short term that I hope you will enjoy as well, and meanwhile, I will myself try and solve some of Bode's latest ones! :O
on 17. March 2025, 11:34 by chrisj50
It was a pleasure to test and a very tough challenge. Beautifully logical throughout & cleverly utilised both rule sets:)
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Huge thanks again for all your efforts and feedbacks on this puzzle Chris, and for entering your solve here -- very glad to hear this was all a pleasant experience for you! :D
on 16. March 2025, 11:25 by Las4one
Very nice as always!
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Thank you so much, I'm very glad you liked it, as this was made with a number of specific solvers in mind, of which you were part! :D
on 15. March 2025, 03:30 by bodemeister
Definitely a doozy of a puzzle with a fun break-in, lots of doppelganger logic, and a cool ending. Highly recommend! And thanks for the shoutout. It was a pleasure to test this puzzle! Looking forward to the next one!
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My pleasure for the shoutout, and the least I could do. Now let's hope it'll send some traffic your way and a number of courageous solvers will attempt (and hopefully solve) your puzzles (Doppelgangers or not)!
