Asexual and Non-Binary Pride
(Published on 1. June 2025, 09:12 by PhoenixAki)
- Normal sudoku rules apply. Place the digits 1-9 in each row, column, and 3x3 box without repetition.
- Cloned Lines: The pairs of purple, white, and black horizontal lines are clones of each other, meaning their digits will appear in the same order. All other lines are purely cosmetic and do not follow this rule.
- Killer Cages: Digits in dotted-line cages must sum to the number in the top left corner of the cage. Digits may not repeat within a cage.
- German Whispers: Adjacent digits on a green line must have a difference of at least 5.
Visual impairment friendly version: here. This version has text abbreviations specifying which line is which color, for the clone rule. PR for purple, BL for black, and WH for white.
To increase accessibility to my puzzles, I include hints in my puzzle posts (see below) and also post solution videos which guide you through the hints on my YouTube channel. If you'd like to solve this in your own video, go ahead! But ideally, let me know here or via Discord (same username) if you do ^.^
Hint 1: What digits appear and don't appear on the cloned lines is of major importance. For example, knowing that 3 is not on the black line implies where 3 must go in row 8. Hint 2 details more explicitly how to take advantage of this.
Hint 2: 3 must go in the 15 cage in row 8. Similarly, 2 must go in the 15 cage in row 7. This forces 1 to be on the German whisper line. The German whisper must also sum to 15 because the whole box must sum to 45, and knowing a 1 is on it tells you what its digits must be, and in turn tells you the rest of the cages.
Hint 3: Knowing what digits are in the 15 cage in row 8 tells you what digits can not be in the 21 cage in row 1. The rest of the solve past this point is using the same types of strategies again, being careful to always copy digits on cloned lines and be generous with your pencilmarking.
Solution code: Row 5 from left to right (9 digits)
Comments
on 12. January 2026, 11:06 by PhoenixAki
Added hints after learning recently how to do that in HTML. Wish I knew this last week when I went over all my posts...oh well.
on 5. January 2026, 19:23 by PhoenixAki
Updated post as part of an effort to improve consistency of rule phrasing and post layout across all my puzzles. I also included a link to a second version of the puzzle that's more accessible to solvers with visual impairments such as colorblindness.
on 25. July 2025, 01:41 by ParaNox
I'm a little late for pride but you still made this non-binary sudoku lover here very happy with your puzzle! Thanks. :)
on 19. July 2025, 14:06 by RoystonDA
Brilliant combination of rules and style
on 5. June 2025, 17:51 by josemadre
You aced this showcase!
on 5. June 2025, 16:37 by treb
fun puzzle/theme - thanks!
on 4. June 2025, 20:38 by dzamie
Happy pride!
Nice puzzle!
on 2. June 2025, 04:30 by etoler
Happy Pride!
on 1. June 2025, 22:19 by drmegadude
Happy pride!!
on 1. June 2025, 11:14 by LuanMerlin
Fellow asexual and non-binary person here! Thanks for the puzzle and Happy Pride.
