21 Guns (Killer sudoku)
(Published on 27. August 2025, 15:19 by sujoyku)
Rules:
- Normal sudoku rules apply, i.e. each row, column, and 3x3 region has to contain the digits from 1 to 9 once each.
- Killer cages: Digits in a cage do not repeat and must sum to 21.
Here you can solve the puzzle online:
Solution code: Row 3 from left to right (9 digits in total)
Comments
on 26. October 2025, 21:24 by Draxie
The way you are able to extract such beautifully coordinated symmetry from the killer rule set is quite astounding.
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Thank you for your comment, Draxie! I am glad that you enjoyed the symmetry in this set-up.
Kind regards, sujoyku
on 25. October 2025, 16:33 by Sudopera
This was such a fun solve!
Trying to make it simpler I made it so complicated, I had to restart =D I thought it would be simpler than 22 cages, but boy was I wrong…
Thanks so much for this!
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You are much welcome, Sudopera, thank you for your comment! It is great to hear you had a fun solve.
Kind regards, sujoyku
on 14. September 2025, 21:37 by samuelsamjo
for what values can you create a sudoku like this? Which sudokus can be made using only one value for the cage total?
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That is a good question, samuelsamjo, and the honest answer is: I don't know. I have been told that 36 is impossible which I think is caused by 1 and 2 being indistinguishable. (If I am not mistaken the same should hold true for 9-cages.) There are some obvious totals for which it is impossible. For example, anything below 9 cannot distinguish the high digits. On the other extreme, 44-cages would only allow to place 1s. But if somebody knows the general answer, please write a comment and let us know.
Kind regards, sujoyku
on 13. September 2025, 01:53 by Joozd
All went smooth until it didn't. Spend three hours staring at it, then saw the missing piece! Very nice and rewarding!
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Wow, thank you for sticking with the puzzle, Joozd, and thank you for your comment! I am glad you found it to be rewarding.
Kind regards, sujoyku
on 6. September 2025, 07:28 by BorisTheSnake
Wow this was a toughie, but so rewarding! Such beautiful logic/construction
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Thank you for your comment, BorisTheSnake! I am glad you liked the puzzle and found it to be rewarding.
Kind regards, sujoyku
on 30. August 2025, 11:22 by Snue
I spent so many hours missing something so simple, I almost drove myself mad :p
Once I realised what I missed, everything worked out instantly. Very nice puzzle, especially if you don't miss the obvious like I did (:
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Oh no, I know that feeling. I hope you had a fun solve anyways, Snue. Thank you for commenting!
Kind regards, sujoyku
on 29. August 2025, 12:15 by JoeyJoeJoe
Thanks so much for setting - it took me way longer that everyone. 02:18:54 for me.
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You are much welcome, JoeyJoeJoe, thank you for your comment! I am glad that you enjoyed the puzzle. In my opinion, the time does not matter as long as you have fun solving.
Kind regards, sujoyku
on 28. August 2025, 19:09 by Exigus
Lovely puzzle and a nice addition to the series. Thanks!
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You are much welcome, Exigus, thank you for your comment! I am glad that you liked the puzzle.
Kind regards, sujoyku
on 28. August 2025, 10:10 by giladooshlon
Flowed so nicely!
Each puzzle in this series is enjoyable by itself and although they do start to feel quite similar I think it still has the overall effect of sharpening my killer instincts.
Keep them coming please!
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Thank you for your comment, giladooshlon! I am glad you enjoyed the flow of the puzzle.
Kind regards, sujoyku
on 28. August 2025, 08:48 by CYJ123456789
Nice puzzle
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Thank you, CYJ123456789!
Kind regards, sujoyku
on 28. August 2025, 00:55 by Snaques
Love these 2/3* puzzles with a simple ruleset. What joy to solve.
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Thank you for your comment, Snaques! I am glad that you had a joyful solve.
Kind regards, sujoyku
on 27. August 2025, 23:23 by damo_89
That was some sexy geometry
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Thank you for your comment, damo_89! I am glad that you liked this puzzle's geometry.
Kind regards, sujoyku
on 27. August 2025, 21:20 by wuc
Great minimalistic rules puzzle. One step was really 3* to me. Very rewarding. Great setting thx.
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You are much welcome, wuc, thank you for your comment! I am glad you enjoyed the puzzle and found it to be rewarding.
Kind regards, sujoyku
on 27. August 2025, 21:04 by AngusWBA
Lovely colouring puzzle! Got it in just under an hour which I’m happy with, thanks.
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You are much welcome, AngusWBA, thank you for your comment! I am glad you had a fun solve.
Kind regards, sujoyku
on 27. August 2025, 19:37 by Myxo
Lovely!
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Thank you, Myxo!
Kind regards, sujoyku
on 27. August 2025, 18:46 by Snookerfan
Beautiful! Thank you
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You are much welcome, Snookerfan! I am glad that you liked it.
Kind regards, sujoyku
on 27. August 2025, 16:38 by PinkNickels
Really incredible setting. Thanks for sharing.
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You are much welcome, PinkNickels, thank you for your comment! It is great to hear that you liked it.
Kind regards, sujoyku
on 27. August 2025, 16:14 by NEWS
Danke schön, sujoyku! ich freue mich auf die Fortsetzung(22)!
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Vielen Dank, NEWS! Es freut mich, dass es Dir Spaß gemacht hat. Mal schauen, was ich mit 22 so alles anfangen kann. :)
Herzliche Grüße, sujoyku
on 27. August 2025, 15:34 by Calvinball
Another great addition to the series! Moreover each one keeps feeling fresh and fun. Thanks for the fun sujoyku!
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Thank you for your comment, Calvinball, and thanks again for testing! I am glad that you enjoy my one-total series.
Kind regards, sujoyku
