Sudoku Variants Series (465) - Productive Killers
(Published on 1. May 2026, 06:00 by Richard)
For this Sudoku Variants Project I have planned to publish a unique Sudoku variant every week.
Productive Killers
Inspiration for this type comes from Nylimb (1, 2, 3) and Yawnus.
Solve online in Sudokupad.
I will see how long it takes before I am running out of ideas.
Apply classic sudoku rules.
Digits in cages may not be repeated.
Whenever two cages touch each other horizontally and/or vertically, the sum of the digits in one of the cages equals the product of the digits in the other cage.
For example: a cage containing {2,4} touches a cage containing {3,5} since 2x4 equals 3+5. A cage containing {3,5} touches a cage {1,6,8} since 3x5 equals 1+6+8.
Solution code: Row 7
Comments
today, 07:13 by tretro
This one made me think of what's really the difference between logic/elimination and bifurcation/trial & error. It's a serious question. Thanks Richard for all the work you put into this series. I try to 'catch them all' :)
on 3. May 2026, 18:59 by ibag
Schöne Knobelei!
on 1. May 2026, 23:20 by dzamie
Bit too much for me to juggle right now, I think. Really cool variant, though; I'll have to check out the inspiration puzzles (and maybe hope it makes a return if you do another thing like your advent calendar)
on 1. May 2026, 23:05 by Starlight
Really enjoyed this. It's becoming my favourite killer variant. Pretty tough but doable.
on 1. May 2026, 18:21 by Qodec
That was a treat! Thanks very much!
on 1. May 2026, 14:32 by Franjo
Thank you very much for creating and sharing another wonderful (and quite challenging) SVS-puzzle.
on 1. May 2026, 14:05 by marcmees
very challenging & nice. Thanks
on 1. May 2026, 10:06 by Yawnus
Nice new approach to the ruleset! Thanks!
on 1. May 2026, 08:49 by Piatato
Awesome! I'm excited to see something a little more challenging from you again!
on 1. May 2026, 06:54 by Nylimb
Very nice puzzle! Thanks.
My first solve used a bifurcation near the end, but I figured that shouldn't be necessary, so I backed up to that point and found a way to finish the puzzle without it.
