Outbreak!!
(Published on 15. May 2025, 17:20 by Flinty)
To play the puzzle, please click the image:
Special Thanks
Edit: I have been fortunate enough to receive a Cracking The Cryptic feature for this puzzle.
This puzzle was set for the weekly Scojo discord/twitch prompt, where the theme was to use constraints with the colour of the discord flag you chose, which for me happened to be green. I had a play with German Whispers and Shifters, but didn't find any new logic that I liked and then I remembered an old puzzle of mine...
This puzzle reuses a constraint that me and palpot used on the Halloween Special Dutch Flat Mates, which fittingly was also set for a Scojo weekly prompt.
Initial Setter Difficulty: 3 / 5
Normal Sudoku rules apply
Place the digits 1-9 so that they do not repeat in any row, column, or 3x3 box.
Zombie Cages
Digits in cages must sum to the number in the initial top-left corner, and digits cannot repeat within a cage.
ALL cages must grow by at least one orthogonally connected cell (could be more than one!).
Different cages cannot share cells.
Hint to start
There are nine cages with totals that must include a 1, there is tension in where those 1s can be placed.
Solution code: Digits from Row 3
Comments
on 28. May 2025, 16:22 by florita
What a treat! Thanks :)
I usually do easier puzzles (1*-2*) and this felt pretty easy to me. Just took me 41:17 because of some failed basic math along the way..
on 21. May 2025, 22:31 by greebug
fun rule set and playful setting; very nice
on 21. May 2025, 09:49 by Jenny :3
That was awesome! I solved it at 2 in the morning watching a Boogie2988 breakdown compilation haha
on 20. May 2025, 05:08 by juggler
What a great puzzle! Solve path is smooth as butter, with a really nice deduction at the end.
on 19. May 2025, 22:38 by Flinty
Thank you for the kind comments. I have also been fortunate enough to receive a Cracking The Cryptic feature for this puzzle. Edited to add their solve video link.
on 19. May 2025, 19:35 by PancakePie
What a fun constraint! And expertly built. Thanks for sharing!
on 17. May 2025, 23:01 by Phantombow
This was the first time I encountered the Zombie Cage constraint and I have to say this puzzle was quite lovely with very enjoyable logic.
Thank you Flinty!
on 17. May 2025, 03:10 by fitzie
amazing how far you can get in this puzzle with little more than some colors. fun smooth solve.
on 16. May 2025, 21:58 by sujoyku
Fantastic puzzle. Thank you, Flinty!
on 16. May 2025, 16:35 by Exigus
Fun constraint and a lovely puzzle, thanks!
on 16. May 2025, 14:22 by Snookerfan
Very nice! Thank you
on 16. May 2025, 09:40 by Tank
Thoroughly enjoyed it! Brain almost got eaten though. Great puzzle!
Flinty: Thank you. Nom nom!! :)
on 15. May 2025, 21:34 by Allagem
Phenomenal puzzle! Zombie cages are a ton of fun and I hope to see them again! :D
Flinty: Thank you, I was very pleased with the logic and the symmetry on this one.
on 15. May 2025, 21:05 by IntegralHamster
Nice puzzle, but I'd say more or a 2* than 3*.
Flinty: Thank you, I can appreciate that it would feel like a 2/5 if you spot stuff quickly. Good job. :)
