Myopia Whisper Loop
(Published on 1. August 2026, 01:00 by yttrio)
Rules:
Normal Sudoku rules apply.
Draw a one-cell-wide loop of orthogonally connected cells. The loop may not touch itself, not even diagonally.
The loop acts as a German Whispers line (i.e., adjacent digits on the loop must have a difference of at least 5).
Cells containing arrows indicate ALL of the orthogonal directions which tie for having a loop cell appearing closest to the clued cell. Cells containing clues cannot be on the loop.
A digit in a clued cell counts the combined total number of loop cells in all directions indicated by the arrow(s) in that cell.
6x6 Example:
The image below shows a sample 6x6 puzzle and solution with the same rule set.
Note: For 6x6 Sudoku, adjacent digits on a German Whispers line must have a difference of at least 3 (instead of the usual 5)
Play the example 6x6 in SudokuPad.
Solution code: Digits on the loop in row 6 (left to right) followed by digits on the loop in row 9 (left to right)
Comments
on 14. August 2026, 11:50 by abadx
Very approachable loop puzzle. I am always scared when an old constraint is added (like Myopia), but it worked very well. Thanks for setting.
on 6. August 2026, 21:18 by Piatato
Great fun, thanks!
on 2. August 2026, 16:28 by Calvinball
Grid with just a few arrows in it? ☑
Loop building? ☑
Super elegant solvepath with nuanced logic and a lot to discover? ☑
Can confirm, it passes the yttrio checklist.
on 2. August 2026, 13:14 by wuc
Finally got it. One you got a loop mistake it becomes unsolvable. Carefullness improved. Great puzzle. Kept me trying. Thx.
on 2. August 2026, 12:42 by wuc
Finally got it. One you got a loop mistake it becomes unsolvable. Carefullness improved. Great puzzle. Kept me trying. Thx.
on 1. August 2026, 20:11 by Snookerfan
Great fun, thanks!
on 1. August 2026, 17:24 by Christounet
Very fun! Thanks :)
on 1. August 2026, 13:53 by sorryimLate
Thanks Dendr! Fun puzzle!
on 1. August 2026, 13:23 by galium_odoratum
Super fun with great flow, this one goes on my favourites!
on 1. August 2026, 12:44 by Dendr
sorryimLate,
As I see it, if an arrow points, say, South, it means that the closest loop cell (to the arrow's cell) is in that direction. In other directions loop is farther away by at least 1 cell.
If there are two or more arrows in a cell, the their respective distances to the loop are the same (that's where "tie" appears), but still the least.
on 1. August 2026, 11:53 by Franjo
Thank you very much for creating and sharing another gorgeous loop puzzle. (Easier than expected!)
on 1. August 2026, 09:33 by sorryimLate
Sorry, I don't understand this sentence: "Cells containing arrows indicate ALL of the orthogonal directions which tie for having a loop cell appearing closest to the clued cell."
