Novem
(Published on 13. February 2026, 22:23 by PhoenixAki)
This is the second puzzle in a new mini-series titled Deja Vu. What does that mean, I wonder...the first person who is able to correctly guess what the series is about will get free access to all of my patreon-exclusive puzzles for February 2026 (5 puzzles).
- Normal sudoku rules apply. Place the digits 1-9 in each row, column, and 3x3 box without repetition.
- Dynamic Fog: The grid is partially covered in grey fog. Placing correct digits will clear the fog, at minimum under that cell and sometimes in other parts of the grid. No guessing is required.
- Killer Cages: Digits in dotted-line cages must sum to the number in the top left corner of the cage. Digits may not repeat within a cage.
- Kropki Pairs: Digits separated by a black dot must have one digit be double the other (a 2:1 ratio). Digits separated by a white dot must be consecutive.
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: With the given clues, you can identify where the high digits of row 4 must go. How do they interact with the 14-sum cage?
Hint 2: The rest of the break-in involves identifying which combination of options for the 9-sum cages are in use. You can prove what one of them must be by paying attention to where 6 must go in row 3. The other cage's digits can be deduced by a short contradiction chain.
Hint 3: Box 8's dots can be reduced based on how they impact the 9-sum cages. For the white dot, think about what even digits are available for it, since all white dots must have 1 even and 1 odd digit.
Hint 4: Once the white dots are revealed, you need to pay attention to how they impact where even and odd digits must go in their respective rows and columns.
Hint 5: The size of box 9's 12 cage is deducible based on the possible options for summing to 12. Think about whether it can be only 2 cells big or if it must be 3 or 4 cells. From there, work out what its shape must be (pay attention to column 9).
Solution code: row 8 from left to right (9 digits).
Comments
on 15. February 2026, 05:50 by puzzlelad
Easy break in but still 3* to me! Lots of fun, thank you for the puzzle.
on 15. February 2026, 02:11 by VitP
i think a good MEANING for level 2 is "easy for experts, not impossible for beginners"
so this qualifies.
one more (obscure) hint: morpheus found him (in box 9)
on 14. February 2026, 17:38 by sujoyku
Very nice puzzle! It might be just me, but it felt harder than 2 stars at several points. Anyhow, thank you for this fun challenge, PhoenixAki!
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PhoenixAki: I'm pretty new to making any puzzles that border upon being possibly 3 stars so I don't have a great intuition yet for what actually justifies 3 stars. I figured this one, at least, was close enough to 2 that it'd be fair to start it at that and if enough people disagree, the rating will reflect it by overriding me.
on 14. February 2026, 17:04 by PuzzledSolver
Such an aesthetic solve. Brilliant creation! Thank you for sharing.
on 14. February 2026, 01:50 by HariSeldon
Very smooth solve start to finish. Thank you!
on 13. February 2026, 23:47 by hardline35
It was not too easy. Very enjoyable puzzle, thank you!
