Taxi Rank
(Published on 24. April 2025, 22:23 by marty_sears)
- The digits along each coloured route can be read as a 6-digit 'route number', starting at the square and finishing at the spot. These nine route numbers can be ranked from lowest to highest. A circled yellow taxi on a route indicates that route's rank. (A '1' taxi would be on the route with the smallest 6-digit route number. None of the route numbers are the same, so there are no tied ranks.)
- Box borders divide a BLUE ROUTE into segments whose digits have the same sum.
- Adjacent digits on a GREEN ROUTE have a difference of at least 5.
- Digits on a PINK ROUTE form a non-repeating, consecutive set, in some order.
Rules:
Normal sudoku rules apply.
Please leave a comment if you enjoy :)
If playing on a mobile, I recommend playing this basic version. It doesn't have the notes section, but will be easier to see.
Solution code: The 6-digit route number ranked 7th
Comments
on 14. February 2026, 04:11 by eamondawes
I stared at it for half an hour and then it eventually clicked. Fabulous puzzle
on 15. October 2025, 00:33 by zeneszerzo
Another brilliance by Marty!
on 15. August 2025, 16:17 by Franjo
The break-in made me smile! Thank you very much for creating and sharing this funny puzzle.
on 6. May 2025, 01:38 by stickx
Loved it... I was SO stuck on the break in because I had the top green line's start/finish around the wrong way in my mind.
on 2. May 2025, 19:34 by elyas_targ
Interesting logic throughout, and a cute presentation to boot - thank you! And you got me interested in Stu's original series - will try those out soon.
on 29. April 2025, 18:54 by jwanders
Wasn't sure if the "unranked" taxis still had to include their route number somewhere, but perhaps that was a deliberate ambiguity. I won't spoil it here except to say you can reach the solution without relying knowing the answer.
on 28. April 2025, 18:00 by bhambells
Clues are evenly distributed and initially there are a few places where it looks like it might start, but it still requires bringing together a few different deductions to finally create the pressure to find it.
(Hopefully not revealing too much; the holding back of a couple of rank values maintains the tension for a bit longer)
on 28. April 2025, 12:57 by novato
Very, very, very very clever. A joy to solve. Took me longer than two stars!
on 28. April 2025, 03:10 by PancakePie
A gem like always! Thanks Marty, this was a fun play (although a little small on my phone haha).
on 28. April 2025, 03:02 by Clementi
Mr Sears is my favourite setter, and this kind of thing is exactly why. Such a well conceived and executed puzzle.
Felt extremely difficult early on, but once I got a foothold it worked out nicely, so I'd put it on the more challenging side of 2 stars
on 27. April 2025, 19:18 by virus_dave
Very lovely puzzle, thank you!
on 27. April 2025, 14:16 by jakestilesowen
Novel puzzle idea and great execution - what I always expect from a Marty Sears puzzle.
on 26. April 2025, 13:43 by mihel111
Lovely craziness
on 26. April 2025, 13:26 by ninjamunk
Brand new concept, cute graphics, consistent difficulty throughout, but very approachable. A Marty classic!
on 25. April 2025, 22:11 by Elker
What a wonderful gift pianist and all of us. Very fun.
on 25. April 2025, 15:39 by mscha
Marvellous!
It seemed impossible, but once you finally spot the break-in (genius!) it flows pretty smoothly.
Oh, and happy birthday, dear pianist!
on 25. April 2025, 15:06 by ViKingPrime
Road trip!
on 25. April 2025, 09:30 by TJ
Thanks for another great puzzle! Any chance you can create a phone friendly version? The puzzle is quite small now.
Marty: I don't think so sadly. I feel the notes section is very much needed in this and unfortunately I don't think there's a zoom function in the phone app yet
on 25. April 2025, 06:49 by fitzie
not a quick solve for me, had to focus on the difficulty so I would stop overthinking the break in.
on 25. April 2025, 02:39 by mathpesto
Brilliant setting! Fun til the very end :)
on 25. April 2025, 01:42 by firespire
Happy that you have got me conquering another puzzle type.
Full Rank puzzles with fewer difficulty stars I can't get my head around but somehow your graphics, just 9 ranks and a section for recording has made it achievable for me.
Thanks.
on 24. April 2025, 23:34 by Exigus
Brilliant.
