Equal Sum Snake
(Published on 17. July 2023, 10:16 by Scruffamudda)
Normal sudoku rules apply for the 9 3x3 regions.
Additionally the green regions contain 4 complete sets of the digits 1 to 9 which do not repeat in any row or column.
Within the grid lies a 1 cell wide snake of orthogonally connected cells which does not touch itself (even diagonally) and has a beginning and end to be determined. Each segment of the snake within a region (including the green regions) contains digits that sum to the same total. Digits on the snake separated by a region border are consecutive.
Digits separated by a white dot are also consecutive.
A digit in a circle or square shows the number of snake cells found in the surrounding 9 cells (including itself if it is on the snake). Circles contain odd digits, squares contain even digits.
Black cells do not contain digits or snake.
Solution code: row 1 (eleven digits)
Comments
on 19. July 2023, 05:22 by Scruffamudda
Updated example image.
on 18. July 2023, 12:43 by Scruffamudda
OK, I've upped the estimated difficulty. Thanks for your comments.
on 18. July 2023, 12:37 by henrypijames
Wow, that was epic - no other way to describe it. The suggested 4 difficulty is a joke - this is definitely 5+, and the break-in is at least infinitely bifurcation-adjacent. But it has so many kinds of unique logic in fantastic combinations, so all the pain and suffering is worth it in the end.
The rules need some further clarifications.
on 18. July 2023, 08:10 by marcmees
amazing puzzle. thanks. The green regions, altough not relevant to the digits in the 3x3 boxes, were at times confusing. :-)
on 17. July 2023, 19:29 by JayForty
Even towards the end I was amazed that it actually solved. Mind-blowing and very clever! Thanks :)
