1. Twenty-Something
Normal sudoku rules apply (fill each row, column, and 3x3 box with the digits 1-9 once each), and all clues are standard.
Killer cages: the sum of the digits inside each cage is equal to the small number in the top left corner.
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.
Before we move on, I have a request, and this will only take a minute or two. I’ve alluded a few times before to plans for an in-person SudokuCon, and am excited to report that it’s becoming a reality: April 4-6, 2025, in Boston, Massachusetts. We’ve put together a short survey to help us gain a better sense of how many people might be attending and what sorts of activities should be prioritized.
It’s completely anonymous (although you will be given a chance to provide your email address if you want to be notified about future developments, such as when passes go on sale), and I’ll encourage you to fill it out even if you’re unlikely to attend, because your feedback is still extremely valuable to us. Thanks!
2. Machination
Normal sudoku rules apply (fill each row, column, and 3x3 box with the digits 1-9 once each), and all clues are standard.
German whispers: along green lines, digits must differ from their neighbors by at least 5.
Renban lines: purple lines contain a non-repeating set of consecutive digits in any order.
Digits in cells separated by a V sum to 5.
Digits in cells separated by an X sum to 10.
Very rough difficulty estimate: 5/10
Play online: SudokuPad | F-Puzzles
Big thanks to BremSter for recording an advance solve video of the puzzle below. Check that out here, and go ahead and subscribe to his channel while you’re at it—if you like the puzzles here, I’m sure you’ll like the ones he features 😁
3. Visage
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.
Thermometers: digits on thermometers increase from the bulb.
Very rough difficulty estimates: 8/10, 6/10
Play online: SudokuPad | F-Puzzles
Extra clues: SudokuPad | F-Puzzles
Some other puzzles I enjoyed this week:
Ten Loop, by palpot
Anomaly, by Migu
Up, Down, Left, Right, by Alaric Taqi A. (Crusader175), the puzzle that—deservedly—recently defeated me in the first round of a single-elimination speed-setting competition
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 (@jwsinclair) 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:
There’s a survey in this one, and who doesn’t love a survey?
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.