Rules:
Fill some cells in the grid with the digits 1–9 such that no digit repeats in a row or column.
Tapa-Like Loop: Draw an orthogonally connected, non-intersecting loop through the centers of some cells. Question marks and given digits are tapa-like loop (TLL) clues; these clues cannot be on the loop, and they represent the numbers of consecutive cells occupied by the loop each time it enters the (up to) eight cells surrounding the clue(s). If there are two clues in a cell, each clue corresponds to a separate loop segment. Cells on this loop contain no digits. Every cell with two given TLL clues contains two digits each. All other cells in the grid contain one digit each.
Regions: A region is an orthogonally connected collection of non-loop cells. Digits cannot repeat within a region and regions cannot touch each other orthogonally.
Region Sum Lines: The red and blue lines are region sum lines: Numbers on a line have the same sum in each region the line is in. If a line passes through a region multiple times, each individual segment sums separately.
Some clarifications: Given digits (i.e. TLL clues) cannot repeat in a row, column, or region. A “?” represents any of the digits 1–9, and therefore a “?”’s value cannot repeat in a row, column, or region either.
(Also note: For answer check to trigger, exclude any digits from cells containing two TLL clues. Additionally for Penpa+, draw the loop in green.)
7x7 Example (just the digits 1–4):
Solve online:
Solution code: The cells in Column 1 from top to bottom. Write "L" for each loop cell.
on 5. April 2024, 09:07 by puzzler05
fantastiv
on 2. April 2024, 15:58 by puzzler05
fantastiv
on 29. February 2024, 01:52 by zakkai
gorgeous puzzle!
on 16. October 2023, 10:48 by Christounet
Superbly done ! Loved this loop. Thanks.
on 6. September 2023, 15:53 by wildbush7
Absolutely loved it, the logic flowed beautifully. Thanks for the wonderful puzzle!
on 6. September 2023, 05:32 by Myxo
Absolutely beautiful construction!
on 27. August 2023, 20:28 by hopppe
Frei nach der "Dalli, Dalli" Jury:
"Region Sum Lines" war doppelt, müssen wir einmal abziehen...
:-)
on 27. August 2023, 15:16 by wand
sprawling and elegant. loved it!
on 25. August 2023, 20:22 by alanb
Thought I broke it so many times :) thanks for setting this, it was really satisfying to solve!
on 25. August 2023, 07:05 by zhall12570
So so fun and challenging. Thank you!
on 24. August 2023, 16:41 by Snookerfan
Great puzzle! It kept me wondering how some of the sudoku digits could ever resolve, but they did beautifully. Thank you so much.