Borderline Bonus Boxes
(Published on 28. December 2025, 17:09 by gdc)
This is my first time trying the regional constraints rule which has been popularized by Visumation. Thanks NicoD for feedback on the rules-phrasing and all the other testers. Hope you enjoy!
Regional Constraints: For each clue type, there may be no repeated digits on that type. E.g. the 9 cells on renbans contain 9 different digits.
Tentropy Line (TEN): On the long line, every run of 4 cells contains one digit from each of the groups {1,9}, {2,8}, {3,7} and {4,6}. 5 never appears on the line.
Renban Lines (REN): For each 3-cell line, its digits form a consecutive run (like 234) when sorted.
German Whisper Lines (GW): For each 2-cell line, its digits differ by 5 or more.
Kropki Pairs: Digits separated by a white dot are consecutive. Digits separated by a black dot are in a 1:2 ratio. Not all dots are necessarily given.
Solution code: Row 7, left to right (9 digits)
Comments
on 12. January 2026, 00:23 by Motty
Great puzzle with some unique logic.
on 9. January 2026, 10:58 by gdc
@bboom: Thanks for the feedback! The intent is that the 6 digits on black dots are all different and the 8 digits on white dots are all different. I agree that it would be better to have the constraint titles be better aligned with the "clue types".
on 8. January 2026, 15:53 by bboom
The regional constraint is a bit unclear to me. It says it applies to each 'clue type', not only to 'line types', which implies the Kropki pairs are also included.
But 'Kropki pairs' are listed as a single clue type, and there are 14 digits 'on' Kropki pairs, which clearly can't all be different.
Should I read 'clue type' as 'line type'? Or should I consider 'Black Kropki pairs' and 'White Kropki pairs' as two different clue types, with their own set of unique digits?
on 1. January 2026, 09:56 by randall
Beautiful!
on 30. December 2025, 20:00 by hundertzwoelf
Great fun! I love the ruleset.
on 29. December 2025, 13:35 by Snookerfan
I always like puzzles with these regional constraints and this one was fun and approachable, thanks!
on 29. December 2025, 13:28 by SennyK
Lovely clever puzzle, thank you :-)
on 29. December 2025, 09:34 by walid_tun
It was fun, I found it easier than expected.
on 29. December 2025, 02:01 by oklux
Excellent, thank you for sharing!
on 29. December 2025, 01:51 by sujoyku
Thank you for this lovely puzzle, gdc!
on 28. December 2025, 22:57 by gdc
fix typo in rules
on 28. December 2025, 21:38 by PinkNickels
Absolutely fan-tabulous! Such exquisite setting.
