Golem Grad by Serkan Yürekli
or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools; use Tab key to alternate between line drawing and shading)
Theme: Clue Symmetry and Logic
Author/Opus: This is the 60th puzzle from our contributing puzzlemaster Serkan Yürekli.
Rules: Variation of Nurikabe. Shade some empty cells black so that the grid is divided into white areas, each containing at most one number. A white area with a number must have the same area in cells as that number. White areas may only touch diagonally. All shaded cells must be connected with each other, but no 2×2 group of cells can be entirely shaded. Also, all shaded cells must be divisible into snakes with the heads and tails given in the grid. Snakes cannot cross each other.
Also, see this example:
Answer String: Enter the length in cells of each of the black segments from left to right for the marked rows, starting at the top. Separate each row’s entry with a comma. This example has the key “7,32,31”.
Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 4:00, Master = 10:00, Expert = 20:00
Solution: PDF
Note: Follow this link for other variations of Nurikabe and this link for more classic Nurikabe. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Nurikabes to get started on.
That’s the biggest spread between “Grandmaster” and “Master” time I’ve seen in a while.
By my calculation, this puzzle is impossible. I have checked, double-checked and triple-checked my steps and come up with the same result, and so can only presume that there is a mistake in it.
It’s tricky but I can confirm the puzzle has been heavily tested and has just one solution. Do you care to share the step(s) where you are running into problems? Someone else here may be able to provide assistance. One rule that some solvers miss is that there can be white areas without any numbers in them.
You’re both right – I had indeed missed that very difference from Nurikabe. Now I’ve sussed it!
I checked and double-checked that there was no solution too, but on triple-checking I found that I was making a reflex assumption that always works in Nurikabe but not here. Fixing that meant that all the numbers and borders would work out. I’ve finally broken the habit of calling puzzles broken on high-quality sites, especially when there are already comments from others who don’t find it broken. See also the dr’s prescription above.
Really enjoyed this form all week. Hope to see more of them!