The New Neighbour
(Published on 14. November 2025, 12:15 by Wiggel)
This is the first puzzle in my 'Neighbour Series'.
This is a snack sized introduction to a new ruleset I developed.
Later entries in the series will feature more elaborate shapes, like a cube.
Rules:
- Place the digits 1 to 4 once each in every row, column and box of the grid and once each into the circles of the square.
- Reserved Neighbours: Digits in the grid may only be orthogonally adjacent, if they share an edge on the square. This applies to any two adjacent digits, even in different boxes. (Eg. If R1C1 contained a 1, and R1C2 a 2, then 1 and 2 would need to be connected on the square, for example in R5C5 and R6C5.)
- Arrows: Digits along an arrow sum to the number in the attached circle. Cells outside the grid are empty and do not count towards that sum.
Solution code: Rows 1 and 2 (left to right)
Comments
on 18. November 2025, 22:06 by teuthida
Looking forward to the next installment! This was a lovely introduction that can lead to some fun deductions
on 15. November 2025, 12:23 by Wiggel
Add Example to Rules
on 15. November 2025, 03:03 by aturtledoesbite
@dzamie:
Ah, thank you! Now I understand! Was a quick solve once I read your explanation.
on 15. November 2025, 00:09 by dzamie
@aturtledoesbite:
If two digits are next to each other in the 4x4 grid, they must also be next to each other in the connected-circles square.
For example, say the connected-circles square is 1234 in normal reading order. So, 1 is next to 2 and 3, but not 4. Then, in the main grid, if R1C1 is 1, then R1C2 must be 2 or 3, and can't be 4 (similarly, R2C1 must also be 2 or 3, and also can't be 4).
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(puzzle comment/reaction:)
A 4x4 winds up very easily restrictive; this was a breeze to get through. I'm sure larger puzzles will have some interesting logic, though! Especially if you start changing which circles are connected, rather than going pure orthogonal.
on 14. November 2025, 18:30 by aturtledoesbite
Hello! I'm not sure I understand the 'Reserved Neighbours' rule... could you provide an example?
