Slipstream (Teleportation Cycle Sums Sudoku)
(Published on 22. July 2025, 10:30 by Feadoor)
A slightly twisted rule with some interesting implications. I had thought it was new, but it was kindly pointed out to me that there is prior art: two puzzles by SudokuExplorer here and here, and an SVS puzzle by Richard here.
Normal Sudoku rules apply: place a number from 1 to 9 into each cell so that every row, column and box contains each number exactly once.
Cycle Sums: Some clues are given outside the grid. For each clue, number the cells in its row/column from 1 to 9, starting with the cell nearest the clue. Starting from the first cell, go to the Xth cell, where X is the number in the first cell, then go to the Yth cell, where Y is the number in the Xth cell, and so on, until you end up back at the first cell. The clue indicates the sum of the digits in the cells visited in this way.
Some examples of fulfilled clues are supplied in a separate grid. These are not related to the puzzle.
Normal Sudoku rules apply: place a number from 1 to 9 into each cell so that every row, column and box contains each number exactly once.
Cycle Sums: Some clues are given outside the grid. For each clue, number the cells in its row/column from 1 to 9, starting with the cell nearest the clue. Starting from the first cell, go to the Xth cell, where X is the number in the first cell, then go to the Yth cell, where Y is the number in the Xth cell, and so on, until you end up back at the first cell. The clue indicates the sum of the digits in the cells visited in this way.
Some examples of fulfilled clues are supplied in a separate grid. These are not related to the puzzle.
Puzzle
Examples of fulfilled clues
Solution code: Column 4, top to bottom
Last changed on on 22. July 2025, 15:33
Solved by Sotehr, Niverio, saiifh, zeniko, marcmees, RockyRoer, Felis_Timon, Piatato, wensty, Christounet, Calump, Julianl
Comments
on 28. July 2025, 07:52 by Christounet
Very nice logic with the cycles! Thanks :)
on 24. July 2025, 11:10 by Piatato
Very nice!
Last changed on 22. July 2025, 17:25
on 22. July 2025, 17:20 by RockyRoer
I think Joseph Nehme was even earlier with the idea: 0004EK and 0004L3. I wasn’t smart enough solver to manage them back then— I should try again now.
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Sam says: In those puzzles each sum consists of exactly two numbers, rather than the entire cycle. As far as I can tell, the puzzles by SudokuExplorer were the first to incorporate the idea of using the whole cycle.
on 22. July 2025, 15:33 by Feadoor
Added some background about the history of the variant
on 22. July 2025, 11:45 by Niverio
Lovely new rule, very consistent flow!
