Artisanal Sudoku, Volume 100 Bonus Pack

As, promised, and as a (rather strange, arguably) way to say thanks to everyone who has been around for all or part of the first 100 volumes, here is a set of five puzzles that may be a little tougher than the ones you’ll normally find here, and a sixth one that you’ll have to solve the first five to find (I think it’ll be self-evident how that works, but feel free to contact me with any questions).

At risk of creating a game theory paradox, I’m both offering a prize to the fastest solver, and encouraging collaboration. The prize: a personalized puzzle in the style and difficulty of your choice (within reason), to the first person to send me a screenshot (via email or Discord direct message) of the solved sixth puzzle. Edit: the prize has been claimed!

But also, please feel free to discuss the puzzles and ask for tips, either in the comments to this post or in the #puzzle-discussion channel in the Cracking the Cryptic Discord server. Oh, and I know I said a couple weeks ago that I wouldn’t be providing hints, but I did include a few down below—they’re much shorter and more cryptic than the hints I normally write, but maybe they’ll help point you in the right direction.

Enjoy! And thank you all so much, for subscribing, solving, and helping to spread the word!

---

1. Rio Tinto

• Fill each row, column, and 3x3 box with the digits 1-9 once each.

• The sum of the digits inside each cage is equal to the small number in the top left corner. Digits cannot repeat within a cage.

• Along blue lines, digits have the same sum within each 3x3 box the line enters.

• On thermometers, digits increase from the bulb.

• Purple lines contain a non-repeating set of consecutive digits in any order.

• Digits in cells separated by a black dot have a 1:2 ratio.

Play online: SudokuPad | unshaded

---

2. Temecula

• Fill each row, column, and 3x3 box with the digits 1-9 once each.

• Digits in columns 1, 5, and 9 indicate the column in which the digit 1, 5, or 9 (respectively) appears in that row.

• On thermometers, digits increase from the bulb.

• Purple lines contain a non-repeating set of consecutive digits in any order.

Play online: SudokuPad

---

3. Settlement

• Fill each row, column, and 3x3 box with the digits 1-9 once each.

• The sum of the digits inside each cage is equal to the small number in the top left corner. Digits cannot repeat within a cage.

• The sum of the digits along an arrow is equal to the digit in the connected circle. These digits can repeat if allowed by other rules.

• Digits in cells with a shaded square must be even.

Play online: SudokuPad | unshaded

---

4. Outreach

• Fill each row, column, and 3x3 box with the digits 1-9 once each.

• The sum of the digits along an arrow is equal to the digit in the connected circle. These digits can repeat if allowed by other rules.

• Digits in cells with a shaded square must be even.

• Digits in cells with a shaded circle must be odd.

• Cells separated by a knight's move (in chess) must contain different digits.

Play online: SudokuPad

---

5. Breakdown

• Fill each row, column, and 3x3 box with the digits 1-9 once each.

• Digits cannot repeat on the indicated diagonals.

• Along green lines, digits must differ from their neighbors by at least 5.

• Purple lines contain a non-repeating set of consecutive digits in any order.

• Digits in cells with a shaded square must be even.

• Digits in cells with a shaded circle must be odd.

• Digits in cells separated by a V sum to 5.

• Digits in cells separated by an X sum to 10.

Play online: SudokuPad

---

Hints

Rio Tinto

• Use the Rule of 45.

Temecula

• There is a fundamental property of 159-indexing puzzles that is very important here.

Settlement

• The name of the puzzle itself contains a bit of a hint.

Outreach

• Consider how many distinct digits can be on the three-cell arrows in the corner boxes.

Breakdown

• Other than the two spots where the central line extends out of box five, none of the whisper cells can contain 4 or 6.

---

Thanks for subscribing to Artisanal Sudoku! Feedback is always appreciated, just leave a comment, reach out on Twitter X, or reply to this email. If you liked these puzzles, you probably know someone else who’d like them too, so please spread the word. And if you’re interested in submitting a puzzle, please reach out to me on Discord or reply to this email.