1. All’s Fair
Normal sudoku rules apply (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.
Renban lines: purple lines contain a non-repeating set of consecutive digits in any order. [This rule was accidentally left out of the original version of this post. Sorry for any confusion!]
Digits in cells separated by a black dot have a 1:2 ratio.
Very rough difficulty estimate: 4/10
Play online: SudokuPad | unshaded | F-Puzzles
New to variant sudoku? Check out these beginner-friendly guides to killer cages and other popular rulesets.
Ok, ok, as much as I’m tempted to let that puzzle stand alone without further explanation, this is a sudoku newsletter, not an April Fools Day-jokemaker, and I know not everyone appreciates this “holiday”. So if you took a look at All’s Fair and decided it’s impossible, I assure you it isn’t; it’s just that the rules are missing the part about digits not repeating in cages, because, in fact, digits can repeat within a cage in that one (the rules for renban lines and black dots remain standard).
This next puzzle might at first glance also seem like a prank, but I promise it’s solvable too.
2. Thinly Veiled
Normal sudoku rules apply (fill each row, column, and 3x3 box with the digits 1-9 once each), and all clues are standard.
Correctly placed digits clear the fog around them.
Arrows: the sum of the digits along an arrow is equal to the digit in the connected circle, and these digits can repeat if allowed by other rules. Arrows do not cross or overlap, and all arrow sums are single-digit.
Little killer clues: numbers outside the grid give the sum of the digits along the indicated diagonal. These digits can repeat if allowed by other rules.
Very rough difficulty estimate: 5/10
Play online: SudokuPad
Another quick break to say that if you enjoyed that puzzle—or even if you didn’t—keep in mind that fog and other innovations are only possible thanks to Sven Neumann and the staggering amount of blood, sweat, and tears (and, depending on when you’re reading this, maybe the occasional stray eyelash) that go into maintaining and improving SudokuPad. And he relies on this community to support his efforts, so please go to this link and give a little bit (or a lot) if you can afford to do so. Thanks!
3. Excursion
Normal sudoku rules apply (fill each row, column, and 3x3 box with the digits 1-9 once each), and all clues are standard.
Arrows: the sum of the digits along an arrow is equal to the digit in the connected circle, and these digits can repeat if allowed by other rules.
German whispers: along green lines, digits must differ from their neighbors by at least 5.
Digits in cells with a shaded circle must be odd.
Digits in cells separated by an X sum to 10.
Very rough difficulty estimates: 7/10, 5/10
Play online: SudokuPad | F-Puzzles
Extra clues: SudokuPad | F-Puzzles
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. If you’re interested in submitting a puzzle, please reach out to me on Discord or reply to this email. And if you want to try more of my puzzles—including several that are tougher than the ones you’ll find here—check out my page on Logic Masters Deutschland.
This week’s meta-description:
Including two puzzles that are (arguably) appropriate for the occasion, and another three that are just regular puzzles with nothing weird going on, I promise.
For premium subscribers, hints and two more bonus puzzles are below.
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Artisanal Sudoku to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.