Peaceful Destruction
(Published on 21. November 2025, 00:00 by NXTMaster)
The rules are as follows:
- Place the digits 1-9 once in every row and column.
- Chaos Destruction: All given regions must be "destroyed" by making sure they do not contain all the digits 1-9. The grid also consists of nine hidden, orthogonally connected regions that each do contain all the digits 1-9. Digits in circles represent how many of its orthogonally and diagonally adjacent cells, including itself, belong to both the given and hidden regions where the circle resides (i.e., where they overlap).
The puzzle is available on SudokuPad. Have fun destroying!
Solution code: Column 5 (top to bottom). Include a "-" to separate digits belonging to different hidden regions.
Comments
yesterday, 22:39 by eap314
Wow, I don't think I've ever done such a well constrained yet hard to spot CC! There is definitely a specific global issue that I almost noticed months ago, but I had to come back to actually try the possibilities. Definitely worth it.
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Awesome to hear from you again. You've come a long way from saying you aren't comfortable solving 5* CC
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It's nice to see a puzzle that purposefully doesn't have a flowy solve path, but still solves smooth. Now I have to refine my skills a lot more, because I'm working towards the 6ish star FDC (fillomino decon) "Derezzed"
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Good luck!
on 11. April 2026, 23:57 by cyddrdrd
Very hard and enjoyable in determining regions. I had to use an empty grid (without boxes) to avoid myself from making normal sudoku deduction automatically haha. Thanks!
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I love hearing horror stories like that about my puzzles, haha. thank you for solving
on 5. April 2026, 17:19 by 6rank
Wow that one was really tricky. Usually you can build the regions bit by bit.
In this puzzle you have to step back and find a more globally solution to the region building, as you will encounter a serious global issue in a certain box.
Thanks for putting this together, I enjoyed solving it.
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Anyone crazy enough to use this puzzle as an introduction to Destruction puzzles is a legend in my books. Thank you for solving
on 27. March 2026, 20:33 by Elliptical
Seemed impossible to solve until it wasn't :)
on 27. February 2026, 17:12 by Snookerfan
Brilliant and very weird! Lots of fun. I kept looking at the wrong clues for ages, but when I finally looked at the right one, it all resolved magically. Thanks
on 19. February 2026, 16:36 by Justalilguy
Nice région building
on 9. January 2026, 19:10 by kasperd
At times it felt like the puzzle was destroying me. I repeatedly had to remind myself that the boxes aren't real (the boxes can't hurt me). Once I got past the symmetry break, the rest of the solve was really nice.
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Haha, glad to hear you managed to win the psychological battle
on 24. November 2025, 20:00 by marcmees
The 3x3 boxes create a false "normal sudoku" feeling. Very hard but rewarding finale. Thanks
on 23. November 2025, 02:27 by mellowrobinson
Excellent setting! At times it seemed impossible but everything came together beautifully in the end.
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Thank you for the solve. This one is tricky for sure
on 22. November 2025, 01:00 by VicJameson
Ignoring the normal sudoku rules that don't apply to these types of puzzle is quite a challenge. A few times I found myself backing up after questioning my logic. But a really smooth solve overall. Lovely puzzle. Thank you.
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Thank you for solving one of the harder destruction puzzles. I knew making the given regions the standard layout would be trippy, but I felt compelled to do it once.
