Foggy Expeadition
(Published on 14. June 2025, 15:44 by SamuPiano)
I am making my final puzzle before I release my 50th (stay tuned - it's going to be something epic!). And, I thought there would be no better way to commemorate 50 puzzles than with a sequel in spirit to one of my favorite sudokus I've ever published, Foggy Pea-losophy. This time, instead of yin-yang, I opted for a cave shading!
This is one of the puzzles that I'm proudest of recently, especially the midsolve, which I think features one of the most surprising deductions in any of my puzzles. I hope you enjoy!
Rules:
Sudoku: Normal sudoku rules apply.
Fog: The grid is partially covered in fog. Placing correct digits will clear fog from surrounding cells.
Cave: Shade some cells such that all unshaded cells form a single orthogonally connected region and all shaded cells are connected to the edge of the grid. Digits in circles either give the size of the shaded region in which it lies or the total number of unshaded cells which can be seen in all directions from the unshaded circled cell, including the cell itself. Shaded cells block vision.
Line Count: Some circled cells are endpoints of lines in the grid. All lines move orthogonally. Lines do not cross or branch, except at circled cells. The digit in a circle gives the total number of cells along each line attached to the circle of the same shading as the circled cell, including the endpoints.
Split Peas: Digits along a line strictly between two circles must sum to a two-digit number, where the tens digit is in one circle and the ones digit is in the other.
XV: Digits separated by an X sum to 10. Digits separated by a V sum to 5. Not all X or V are given.
Click the image of the puzzle to play!
Happy solving! Please leave a comment if you enjoyed this one, and check out some of my other puzzles!
Solution code: The unshaded cells in column 8, from top to bottom.
Comments
on 12. July 2025, 17:35 by psams
Really fun to work through, alternating between clever sudoku and clever application of the specific rules. I was surprised how the puzzle managed to not yield easily, even when almost completed.
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Thank you, psams! I'm happy you enjoyed the variety of logic in this one. -SP
on 5. July 2025, 23:56 by Calvinball
Foggy Split Pea puzzles are certainly one of your forte's. Had a grand ol time with this one.
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Thank you, Calvinball! Thank you also for being there for a lot of the testing process for this one! -SP
on 5. July 2025, 23:48 by etoler
So many unexpected twists and turns in this one, every one of them utterly brilliant. I absolutely adored this puzzle. Thank you!
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Thank you, etoler! I was so happy with *that* one in particular, and I'm happy you enjoyed all the rest just as much! -SP
on 4. July 2025, 09:37 by QuiltyAsCharged
Brilliant puzzle! I got tripped up on a couple tricky spots but found my way through
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Thank you, QuiltyAsCharged! I am so happy you enjoyed this puzzle! -SP
on 19. June 2025, 20:11 by StephenR
Thanks, enjoyed this, though made my life harder than necessary by constantly forgetting that the circles indicated more than one thing.
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Thank you for your comment, StephenR! I am glad you liked the puzzle. And yes, the circles indicate two different things :) -SP
on 19. June 2025, 04:47 by Norkas
Took me some time to get used to the layered ruleset, but the puzzle it enabled you to set is outright exellent.
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Thank you, Norkas! The ruleset has some very surprising and fun implications :) -SP
on 15. June 2025, 21:46 by Franjo
I think that I know now what you mean with „one of the most surprising deductions“. You’re right! But here’s more, an astonishing journey from the nice start up to the beautiful end. Thank you so much for creating and sharing this wonderful masterpiece.
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Thank you, Franjo! That is exceptionally high praise and I'm honored you think so highly of this puzzle. I am so happy this brought you joy! -SP
on 15. June 2025, 21:40 by Sarhik
Are 2x2 shaded/unshaded areas allowed?
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Yes, 2x2 areas can be fully shaded or unshaded! -SP
on 15. June 2025, 14:26 by Exigus
Some very cool epiphanies hidden in there. Thanks!
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Thank you, Exigus! I'm so glad you thought these deductions were very cool. I do too! -SP
on 15. June 2025, 08:44 by SamuPiano
Somehow I was *still* linking to the wrong puzzle for Foggy Pea-losophy lol. Fixed now.
on 15. June 2025, 05:49 by Elker
Very fun. Can’t wait for #50
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Thank you, Elker! I promise it's a doozy :) -SP
on 15. June 2025, 05:06 by mellowrobinson
Beautiful puzzle. Just a little trickle of information in all the right places to subtly lead you to the next steps. You'll never expect what lies under the fog!
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Thank you, mellowrobinson! You were instrumental in helping get this puzzle to its final form. I appreciate your willingness to test several versions of this puzzle! -SP
on 14. June 2025, 19:40 by someguy209
I'm a sucker for line based fog puzzles, and this puzzle really scratched that itch. Puzzle had a difficulty curve that I was pleased to see, and some of the deductions in the middle of the solve left me chuckling! Thanks for the puzzle!
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Thank you, someguy209! I really loved the middle of the solve too when I was making it, so I'm glad it brought you some joy. -SP
on 14. June 2025, 17:13 by ChinStrap
Really enjoyed this a lot. The dual purpose of circles was tricky at times but as long as you remembered it was all smooth sailing.
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Thank you for your solve of this puzzle, ChinStrap! I enjoyed watching you work through the logic and I'm so glad you liked it! -SP
on 14. June 2025, 16:14 by SamuPiano
One of the links went to the wrong puzzle.
