Hot Cages
(Published on 9. April 2025, 10:01 by PhoenixAki)
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This puzzle is part of my snackdoku series. Snackdokus are sudoku puzzles that are generally smaller (4x4 grid) and simpler to solve. If you are an experienced solver, you will likely be done in hardly 30 seconds to 1 minute. Good practice even if you are newer to the hobby!
Rules:
To increase accessibility to my puzzles, I include hints in my puzzle posts (see below). I also post solution videos on my Patreon and YouTube channel. Puzzles released prior to February 2026, as well as my snackdoku and variant sudoku 101 series will continue to get public solution videos on YouTube, while others will be Patreon-exclusive.
Hint 1: It can be helpful to pencilmark thermometers based on how the digits must increase. For example, R2C3 is either a 3 or a 4 to avoid breaking the thermometer. Pencilmark the rest of the thermometer and pay attention to how that affects the cage in R2.
Hint 2: There's only one pair of digits for the 6 cage since this is just a 4x4 sudoku. Resolving row 2 will tell you the order of those digits.
This puzzle is part of my snackdoku series. Snackdokus are sudoku puzzles that are generally smaller (4x4 grid) and simpler to solve. If you are an experienced solver, you will likely be done in hardly 30 seconds to 1 minute. Good practice even if you are newer to the hobby!
- Normal 4x4 sudoku rules apply. Place the digits 1-4 in each row, column, and 2x2 box without repetition.
- Thermometers: Digits on grey thermometers must increase from the bulb to the tip.
- Killer Cages: Digits in dotted-line cages must sum to the number in the top left corner of the cage.
To increase accessibility to my puzzles, I include hints in my puzzle posts (see below). I also post solution videos on my Patreon and YouTube channel. Puzzles released prior to February 2026, as well as my snackdoku and variant sudoku 101 series will continue to get public solution videos on YouTube, while others will be Patreon-exclusive.
Hint 1: It can be helpful to pencilmark thermometers based on how the digits must increase. For example, R2C3 is either a 3 or a 4 to avoid breaking the thermometer. Pencilmark the rest of the thermometer and pay attention to how that affects the cage in R2.
Hint 2: There's only one pair of digits for the 6 cage since this is just a 4x4 sudoku. Resolving row 2 will tell you the order of those digits.
Solution code: Row 3's digits from left to right (4 digits)
Last changed on on 28. January 2026, 01:20
Solved by marcmees, timn, ccotreau, Kirra, jalebc, Hajuhn, ImperfectRainn, SeveNateNine, asdfg, flaemmchen, micjo, KlausRG, rcg, 333sudoku333, kyuquu, Vaaletee, AlexRaetselt, jrunning, zrbakhtiar, sahi1l, ... Enterprize1, QuakingAspen, TianMo, asreddy1312, taiyaki, Gabi Glücksklee , louie.lly, SigmaArf, Onyx, ferps, tifuuu, Wenni, digital_lighting, arutonee, quinnikins, Senor Dingdong
Comments
on 28. January 2026, 01:20 by PhoenixAki
Added links to Patreon.
on 12. January 2026, 02:21 by PhoenixAki
Added hints after learning recently how to do that in HTML. Wish I knew this last week when I went over all my posts...oh well.
on 5. January 2026, 06:55 by PhoenixAki
Updated post as part of an effort to improve consistency of rule phrasing and post layout across all my puzzles.
on 9. July 2025, 11:21 by ACK
Great little snack.
on 12. June 2025, 23:28 by Kusanagi
Thank you
on 28. April 2025, 12:09 by KingIsulgard
23s
on 9. April 2025, 20:20 by PinkNickels
Ye olde 20 second puzzle :)
