Octo
(Eingestellt am 10. September 2026, 01:26 Uhr von PhoenixAki)
As is becoming common for my puzzles, this one rides the line between being 1-2 stars difficulty, seemingly. My instinct would be to put it as 1, but an opinion from a fellow setter was to set it as 2 just in case, so that's what I did. We'll see if y'all end up outvoting me on that!
- Normal sudoku rules apply. Place the digits 1-9 in each row, column, and 3x3 box without repetition.
- Killer Cages: Digits in dotted-line cages must sum to the number in the top left corner of the cage.
- German Whispers: Adjacent digits on a green line must have a difference of at least 5.
- Kropki Pairs: Digits separated by a black dot must have one digit be double the other (a 2:1 ratio). Digits separated by a white dot must be consecutive.
To increase accessibility to my puzzles, I include hints in my LMD posts and also post solution videos on my YouTube channel. I hope these help you solve the puzzles if you are struggling :)
Hint 1: 3-cell 8 cages only have 2 options. There's a digit in common between those 2 options. What does that say about the rows/columns that see 2 of the 3-cell cages? You can remove an option from the 2-cell 8 cages using this.
Hint 2: Once you've utilized hint 1's deduction, it should be possible to work out what R5C5's polarity is, which in turn gives you R6C5, which in turn gives you R7C5.
Hint 3: Box 7's cage can only be 1 option due to the black dot. This is possible to work out earlier, but does need to be known by this point.
Hint 4: The polarity of the row 3 german whisper line should be deducible now.
Hint 5: Where can 3 go in column 1?
Lösungscode: Column 8, from top to bottom (9 digits)
Kommentare
Heute, 06:07 Uhr von PhoenixAki
added solution video to YouTube. While doing so I realized there's a few others I never did videos for, some that I think are already recorded but not uploaded, and some I might need to record new for. Ah well. Will get to it all Soon™
Gestern, 18:40 Uhr von PancakePie
Beautiful! Thank you for this, it was a very fun and elegant puzzle. A little closer to two stars for me - I felt like I was simmering in the possibilities until it clicked.
Also, I didn't need the hints for my solve, but reading them after solving, I found them super helpful without being too hand-holdy. Very well done all around!
am 11. September 2026, 00:26 Uhr von PhoenixAki
fixed hint 3 referencing the wrong box, slightly elaborated on it, and added a word to hint 2 to make it slightly more pointed as to what needs to be thought about.
am 10. September 2026, 17:48 Uhr von anothermember
Very enjoyable, I would say a bit harder than 1* (without the hints).
am 10. September 2026, 13:17 Uhr von Rollo
Thank you for the hints.
am 10. September 2026, 12:18 Uhr von Franjo
Thank you very much for creating and sharing this funny puzzle. (I think there’s no need to give any hints for solving a 1*-puzzle.)
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PhoenixAki: just because you didn't need the hints doesn't mean no one else did :) multiple people have thanked me for them numerous times which proves they have value to some, and that's all I need to feel OK about doing them. As said, it's all in the name of accessibility and slightly evening out the playing field for those who are interested in the puzzle but don't have all the same intuition built up yet to know where to look or how to think about things always (but without the hints making it a cakewalk either).
am 10. September 2026, 09:34 Uhr von Big Tiger
Well, this is interesting: I am stuck. I cannot find the first digit, even after reading all five hints. Clearly I'm missing something very very obvious if this is only 1 or 2 stars.
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PhoenixAki: Dang! Normally I'd have uploaded a solution video alongside the post here (to supplement the hints) but I was busy today and only had time to get the LMD post made and not also record a solution video. I'll get to it in the next day or two and put it on my YouTube (linked above), so if you're still struggling then, keep an eye out for that :)
am 10. September 2026, 09:27 Uhr von Peteronium
Always great fun, but this one is closer to half a star than to two.
am 10. September 2026, 08:52 Uhr von Deklok
Very nice puzzle, it was so smooth to solve. Thank you
am 10. September 2026, 02:13 Uhr von tallcat
Very nicely constructed and fun to see things bounce around the grid!
am 10. September 2026, 01:44 Uhr von gwai77
Very good!
am 10. September 2026, 01:29 Uhr von sujoyku
Thank you for this fun construction, PhoenixAki! I absolutely loved the interactions at the break-in. But it does not stop there, a thoroughly enjoyable puzzle.
