This puzzle was made to celebrate Flinty's birthday!
Flinty is the brilliant mind behind the Dutch Flat Mates series, now on episode 86!, and also the inventor of Zombie Cages and Thripper Lines — both of which earned well-deserved features on the Cracking the Cryptic YouTube channel.
Happy Birthday, Flinty!
Solve online: SudokuPad
Rules:
Normal sudoku rules: Place the digits 1 to 9 in each Row, Column, and 3X3 box.
Dutch Flats: Every 5 in the grid must have a '1' directly above it or a '9' directly below it. It may have both, but it doesn't need both.
Hit Points: A clue outside the grid represents the sum of all the numbers where the distance from the clue equals the number.
You can find detailed example here
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.
Thripper Lines: Digits an equal distance from the center of a Thripper line sum to the same total, which is the value of the digit placed in that line's center (highlighted with a bump).
Dynamic Fog: The grid is covered with fog. correctly placed digits will reveal that cell only. Some key deductions will uncover more fog. No guessing is required.
Solution code: Column 1 digits from top to bottom.
on 14. July 2025, 20:50 by QuiltyAsCharged
@Martina Based on where you're stuck, don't forget the Dutch Flats rule for any 5's you've placed. Also, check the digits you have found in box 9 and see if basic sudoku can place them elsewhere.
on 5. June 2025, 23:57 by Levered
Lots of fun! This was my first time seeing thripper, hit point, and zombie so a lot was new for me. Really enjoyed it though and the rules felt very well utilized!
on 5. June 2025, 22:56 by VitP
beware box 1
on 5. June 2025, 08:54 by farodin64
Happy birthday Flinty! :-)
on 4. June 2025, 21:37 by Flinty
Thank you my friend, great puzzle. :)
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