Whispering Fives (10x10)
(Published on 27. April 2022, 15:50 by M.K.)
Rules:
- Every row, column and 2x5 box must be filled with the digits 0 to 9 once each.
- Digits in a cage sum to the small number in its corner (if given).
- Adjacent digits on a green line must differ by at least 5.
- Each cage starts one straight green line from its left cell going either up, left, or down.
- The two digits in a cage represent the sum of the digits on the line originating from that cage. For example, if a cage contains 1 and 9, the digits on its line sum to 19.
- A line cannot cross a cage, but may cross another line.
Link: SudokuPad
Solution code: Row 6 + Column 8
Comments
on 19. May 2026, 18:26 by QuiltyAsCharged
Lovely puzzle! The concept of finding your own whisper line is creative and leads to interesting deductions.
I found it much easier than 4 stars difficulty, but it was still challenging enough to be engaging.
I agree with Mark that it's better to say a line can't enter another cage. I don't agree that the rules need to clarify if a cage can start with zero, because the solver can work that out as part of the solving process
on 15. May 2026, 11:59 by M.K.
Watch Mark solve this puzzle on CTC:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=konQKbnvhoQ
I decided to leave the rules as they are, so people can follow why he criticized them. The point is that I didn't clarify that a line can't enter a cage without crossing it.
on 19. March 2026, 00:59 by M.K.
Added solution checking and rephrased the rules to make the example more clear.
on 11. July 2022, 13:48 by JayForty
Very nice puzzle! Not as tricky as it first seemed. Wasn't sure if 0X was a valid sum or not, but that became clear quickly enough. Thank you!
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Thanks for solving! Check out my other puzzles for more zero madness ;-) (M.K.)
on 21. May 2022, 23:46 by M.K.
Seems I underestimated the difficulty.
on 30. April 2022, 21:25 by Sktx
@SHERAX (answer to your hidden comment) : your first mentioned sum is incorrect (probably just a counting error ?). Maybe this can help you find your initial error ?
@M.K. : hard but interesting variant. In fact just the 0-9 coupled with whisper lines makes it quite hard to reason with. But there are some very cool logic bits in the solve path. Thanks for the puzzle !
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Thanks for solving! (M.K.)
