Unmiraculous
(Published on 18. February 2026, 16:29 by Kjupatrick)
This puzzle is, above all, a stylistic exercise: an exploration of how one might construct the opposite of a miracle Sudoku.
Unmiraculous by Patrick Junke
Rules:
(Regardless of the fact that the given digits may suggest it, normal Sudoku rules may or may not apply.)
Killer cages:
A, B, and C are integers.
Let x be the value of the empty cell in the center.
The clue in the top-left corner of a dotted region indicates the sum of all the digits in that dotted region plus x.
(In the expression 2xA+B-3xC, x is the multiplication sign.)
App link :
Here is a link to a SudokuPad version of the grid.
Solution code: Without separations, the value of A, the value of B, the value of C, each on three digits like in the SudokuPad grid.
Comments
on 22. February 2026, 15:34 by Kjupatrick
Color added to the puzzle for an easy reading of the cages.
on 20. February 2026, 19:24 by dzamie
Definitely more artistic than a puzzle. I'm pretty sure I could've cut my solve time by 70% if I didn't have to manually add up the caged digits; the algebra was really quite simple. Still, it's visually neat. It could do with some coloring of the cages, both for general visual appeal and also to make it easier to follow the winding shapes.
Also, regarding the issue with the xs in the cage, would *s work? 2*A+B-3*C?
Patrick> Thank you very much for this precious feedback!
I didn’t considered * because it’s a computer sign, and I was afraid it would not be known or as obvious for my, or you, that by all people.
I left the choice/the task of coloring to the solver but since it is indeed more of an artistic puzzle anyway, as you said it, yes, it could be more inviting if there where already some colors. I may add them actually...
on 20. February 2026, 10:19 by Kjupatrick
Adding the precision inside the rule.
on 19. February 2026, 23:11 by Fool on Hill
Rules work for me - note: all cages are adjusted by x.
on 19. February 2026, 22:26 by Anthony
I'm utterly baffled by this puzzle. I ended up guessing until I got the accepted answer, but the accepted answer does not work according to the math in the puzzle. The accepted answers for A, B, and C necessitate a value of x which causes the (2xA + B -3xC) equation to break according to the ruleset.
Edit: I realized my error. The "x" in the equation should really be written differently, considering the use of "x" as a variable in the puzzle. It allows for confusion, as another integer solution works if you presume "x" in the equation is the variable in the puzzle, as I did, rather than a multiplication symbol.
Patrick> My first way of writing it was the preferably 2A+B-3C but in the corner of a killer cage it was not that easy to read, because the minus sign by its position then could be mistaken for a dash of the cage, and be barely visible.
