Nurikabe Loop by Serkan Yürekli
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Theme: The Magic of 23
Author/Opus: This is the 31st puzzle from our contributing puzzlemaster Serkan Yürekli.
Rules: In this variation of Nurikabe, the no 2×2 ocean rule is removed and instead all ocean cells must belong to a single closed loop.
Specifically: Divide the grid into regions called “islands”, each containing exactly one of the given numbers and with the same area as that number. Islands can only touch diagonally. A single closed loop (without intersection or crossings) must be drawn in all remaining cells.
Answer String: Enter the length in cells of the horizontal loop segments from left to right in the marked rows, starting at the top. If the loop only has vertical segments in the marked row, enter 0. Separate each row’s entry with a comma. This example has the key “12,3”.
Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 4:45, Master = 6:30, Expert = 13:00
Solution: PDF
Note: Follow this link for classic Nurikabe puzzles on this website and this link for other variations on Nurikabe puzzles. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Nurikabe puzzles to get started on.
Great puzzle, thanks!
Gur fgrc va gur zvqqyr bs gur fbyir, jvgu gur gjragl-guerr ernpuvat nyy gur jnl gb gur hccre-evtug, was awesome. Even more so because it is a very natural idea and I haven’t seen it in other Nurikabe Loops 🙂
This one was quite difficult, and 23 is definitely magic.
09:12. Impressive puzzle, with the 23 driving the second half of the puzzle. Magnificent construction.
Wowzer ! I started to describe what I like about this puzzle, but it turned out to be too much to mention !
Gur pbzzhavpngvba orgjrra gur bar naq gjb va gur hccre evtug,
gur fdhner sbhe, ubj gur frira sbepr n ybg va gur hccre naq ybjre yrsg,
gur avargrra naq gjragl guerr naq svanyyl gur rvtug.
Your site could benefit from a disclaimer that hitting the fave button too hard could result in rsi 🙂
I may be a half-decade late, but the solution checker keeps telling me that I’m wrong and I can’t figure out why. My solution looks beautiful to me!
Oops.
Hi SS — did you figure out an error or do you still want some assistance?
My “beautiful” solution had two distinct loops. 🙂 An easy fix once I noticed it.