PDF

or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools; use tab to shift between shading mode and the linex mode where left click+drag draws lines and right click marks X’s)

Theme: Too Easy

Author/Opus: This is the 20th puzzle from our contributing puzzlemaster Tom Collyer.

Rules: Standard Cave rules.

Answer String: Enter the length in cells of each of the cave segments from left to right for the marked rows, starting at the top. Separate each row’s entry with a comma.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 0:55, Master = 1:20, Expert = 2:40

Solution: PDF

Note: Follow this link for other classic Caves. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Cave Puzzles to get started on.

All the puzzles from last week have been grouped in this PDF.

Next week will be another variety week with these puzzles (highlight to view):
Monday: Cave by Tom Collyer
Tuesday: Kurotto by Prasanna Seshadri
Wednesday: Nurikabe by Tom Collyer
Thursday: Nanro by Prasanna Seshadri
Friday: Yajilin by Palmer Mebane
Saturday: Cross the Streams by Grant Fikes

The bonus puzzle for our high-level supporters will be a Slitherlink by Thomas Snyder.

PDF

or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools; use the tab key to alternate between shading and number entry modes)

Theme: From 1 to 3

Author/Opus: This is the 34th puzzle from our contributing puzzlemaster Serkan Yürekli.

Rules: Standard Nanro rules.

Answer String: Enter the length in cells of each of the segments labeled with numbers from left to right for the marked rows, starting at the top. Separate each row’s entry from the next with a comma.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 7:00, Master = 10:00, Expert = 20:00

Solution: PDF

Note: Click here for other Nanro puzzles. If you are new to this puzzle type, please first try out the example on the Rules and Info page as well as this easy Nanro post.

PDF

or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools; use Tab to alternate between shading and number entry)

Theme: Clue Symmetry and Logic.

Author/Opus: This is the 2nd puzzle from guest contributor Tapio Saarinen (including an earlier Sunday Surprise co-authored with Thomas Snyder).

Rules: In this variation of Nurikabe, the island clues are now given outside the grid. These numbers must be placed in the first white island cell encountered in the corresponding direction. Each number represents a distinct island, with a total of 10 islands in this puzzle.

Answer String: Enter the length in cells of each of the black segments (the unnumbered, connected “ocean”) from left to right for the marked rows, starting at the top. Separate each row’s entry from the next with a comma.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 5:45, Master = 8:30, Expert = 17:00

Solution: PDF; a solution video is available here.

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.

PDF

or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools)

Theme: Going Up?

Author/Opus: This is the 171st puzzle from Thomas Snyder, aka Dr. Sudoku.

Rules: Variant of Skyscrapers rules. The numbers outside the grid represent the sum of the buildings seen in that row or column. For example, if a row is 12534, the clue from the left would be an 8 (1+2+5) and from the right would be a 9 (4+5).

Answer String: Enter the 3rd row from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 7th row from left to right.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 3:15, Master = 4:30, Expert = 9:00

Solution: PDF

Note: Follow this link for classic Skyscrapers puzzles and this link for variations on Skyscrapers puzzles. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Skyscrapers Puzzles to get started on.

PDF

or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools; use tab to alternate between a composite mode for line/edge drawing and a letter entry mode.)

Theme: Clue Symmetry and Logic.

Author/Opus: This is the 96th puzzle from our contributing puzzlemaster Grant Fikes.

Rules: Variation of Fillomino rules where regions with the same shape must avoid each other instead of regions with the same size (all regions in a pentominous puzzle are pentominoes).

Specifically, divide the grid into 20 pentominoes so that no two pentominoes of the same shape (including rotations/reflections) share an edge. A cell with a letter in it must be part of the pentomino shape normally associated with that letter. An inventory of pentominoes is given below the puzzle but not all shapes must be used.

Answer String: Enter the letter associated with the pentomino occupying each cell in the two marked rows from left to right, separating the rows with a comma. Use CAPITAL LETTERS!

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 1:45, Master = 2:30, Expert = 5:00

Solution: PDF

Note: Follow this link for other puzzles involving Pentominoes.

PDF

or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools in edgex mode where left click+drag draws lines and right click marks X’s)

Theme: I Solemnly Square

Author/Opus: This is the 95th puzzle from our contributing puzzlemaster Grant Fikes.

Rules: Standard Slitherlink rules.

Answer String: Enter the length in cells of each of the internal loop segments from left to right for the marked rows, starting at the top. Separate each row’s entry with a comma.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 1:00, Master = 1:30, Expert = 3:00

Solution: PDF

Note: Follow this link for other classic Slitherlink. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Slitherlink puzzles to get started on.

PDF

or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools; use tab to shift between shading mode and the linex mode where left click+drag draws lines and right click marks X’s)

Theme: Tightly Packed

Author/Opus: This is the 170th puzzle from Thomas Snyder, aka Dr. Sudoku.

Rules: Standard Cave rules.

Answer String: Enter the length in cells of each of the cave segments from left to right for the marked rows, starting at the top. Separate each row’s entry with a comma.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 1:00, Master = 1:30, Expert = 3:00

Solution: PDF

Note: Follow this link for other classic Caves. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Cave Puzzles to get started on.

All the puzzles from last week’s Sudoku focus have been grouped in this PDF. Many of the puzzles from last week have gotten rave reviews. So even if you normally don’t like sudoku you may want to go back and try the puzzles you missed.

Next week will be another variety week with these puzzles (highlight to view):
Monday: Cave by Thomas Snyder
Tuesday: Slitherlink by Grant Fikes
Wednesday: Pentominous by Grant Fikes
Thursday: Sum Skyscrapers by Thomas Snyder
Friday: Outside Nurikabe by guest constructor Tapio Saarinen
Saturday: Nanro by Serkan Yürekli

The bonus puzzle for our high-level supporters will be a Fillomino by Grant Fikes.

PDF

or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools; use tab to alternate between Sudoku number entry mode and a shading mode to mark the top grid.)

Theme: Clue Symmetry and Logic

Author/Opus: This is the 17th puzzle from our contributing puzzlemaster Prasanna Seshadri.

Rules: Variation of Sudoku rules. Each number in the top grid must be moved either up, down, left, or right the same number of cells as that number’s value without crossing the border of the grid. Numbers must all land on unique spots, but unlike in normal Hamle numbers may be adjacent after moving and white areas may not all be connected. Then solve the resulting sudoku. (Note: It is possible for a number to have two valid movement options in the solution; it is only required that at least one direction of movement exists for each number.)

Answer String: Enter the 2nd row from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 5th row from left to right.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 9:30, Master = 15:00, Expert = 30:00

Solution: PDF

Note: Follow this link for other less common variations of Sudoku. Many specific variations of Sudoku have their own categories in the sidebar to the left. Follow this link for classic Sudoku.