[This is a repost from our archives with new notes at the top (original post here): A good sudoku variant adds a small amount of new thinking on top of the basic Sudoku (three-way no repeat) rule; Arrow Sudoku fits that description perfectly with a few arithmetic deductions added on top of standard sudoku, and the potential for graphically interesting themes. This Arrow Sudoku puzzle should break apart easily once the “new” Arrow rule is properly considered.]

PDF

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

Theme: Diagonals (two more than yesterday!)

Rules: Standard Arrow Sudoku rules. Range is 1-6.

Estimated Difficulty*: 1 star

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 0:40, Master = 1:15, Expert = 2:30

Solution: PDF

Note: Follow this link for more Arrow Sudoku. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Arrow Sudoku to get started on. More Arrow Sudoku puzzles can be found in The Art of Sudoku 2 and Masterpiece Sudoku Mix 3.

Our last category for the Best of 2022 posts is “Loop / Path” puzzles, where we had 59 posts during the year. All of the best puzzles are gathered in this PDF file.

Our first puzzle to earn best of ratings is a Slitherlink (Liar) puzzle by Thomas Snyder with a Bull’s-Eye theme. This puzzle hit the mark with its solvers by highlighting several different uses of the “lying” clues during the solve.

or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools; use tab to switch between edgex mode where left click+drag draws lines and right click marks X’s, and a shading and number entry mode to mark/update the liar clues.)

Next up on the favorites list was an Equality puzzle by Murat Can Tonta, a loop variation featured in our Loop Variety Collection 2. This Equality puzzle has several different quadrants to work through and very interesting logic.

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

Two Castle Wall puzzles earned top marks in 2022 but neither was “typical” in that they only used black clues. The first was a “Black Box” Castle Wall puzzle by JinHoo Ahn, another masterpiece from this talented puzzle designer.

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

Second best in category was another uncommon variation, this time an “unequal lengths” variation that we had seen in other loop styles but that shone through in this Slitherlink (Unequal Lengths) puzzle by Murat Can Tonta.

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)

The best loop and best overall puzzle of 2022 was this Castle Wall gem that also uses just black clues in an interesting layout to reveal the one forced solution by an interesting logical path.

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

What did you think of these “best of 2022” puzzles? Add your comments to the posts and send your thanks to the authors for these great constructions.

[This is a repost from our archives with new notes at the top (original post here): One of my favorite “underappreciated” puzzle styles is Cave, a genre that began as BAG from Nikoli (with rules consistent with other loop puzzle styles). The style passed through other names like Corral in the United States Puzzle Championship before being recast as a shading puzzle as Cave which is the GMPuzzles name. While the shading approach feels most natural to me, it does have one slight disadvantage from the loop version which is solvers need to learn an anti-checkerboard rule for themselves (i.e., you cannot have a 2×2 square which alternates between inside/outside cells as on a checkerboard). In the “loop” version of the rules, that grid state would require drawing four edges through a point and would violate the non-intersecting loop rule.

However you want to refer to this puzzle style, we hope that you enjoy this look back at some of the first Cave puzzles on the GMPuzzles site starting with this one featuring a long diagonal of clues.]

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: Ascending/Descending Diagonal

Rules: Standard Cave rules.

Estimated Difficulty*: 1.5 stars

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 0:45, Master = 1:20, Expert = 2:40

Solution: PDF

Note: Follow this link for classic Caves and this link for Cave variations. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Cave Puzzles to get started on. More Cave puzzles can be found in Roger Barkan’s Colossal Cave Collection, in The Art of Puzzles, and in our beginner-friendly collection Intro to GMPuzzles by Serkan Yürekli.

Splitting apart a large grid into subregions or shapes is the unifying element for our “Region Division” category, where we will be announcing the five best of 2022 puzzles today selected from 47 posted puzzles. The “best of” puzzles are gathered together in this PDF file.

We kick off today’s “best of region division” section with this great Fillomino puzzle by Jonas Gleim. The separation of evens and odds leads to some interesting emergent logic as one works to the unique solution.

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 number entry mode.)

Contributing puzzlemaster Takeya Saikachi drew a lot of attention with his puzzles in 2022 including this Cave (Myopia) combination that takes the familiar “Myopia” arrows and applies them to another genre where this was at least my first time seeing this kind of combination.

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)

Early in each year we often post “New Year” puzzles with a clear 20XX theme. This 2022 Fillomino from Prasanna Seshadri was one of our first puzzles in the year and an instant “classic” destined for this best of ranking.

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 number entry mode.)

While we can’t tell you the theme behind this Spiral Galaxies puzzle by Murat Can Tonta, one of the commenters said “This might be my favourite puzzle yet!” We think you might enjoy the solving path and hidden surprises too.

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 shading mode.)

While this was a very competitive category this year, the top puzzle stood out clearly from the rest and was another masterpiece by JinHoo Ahn who keeps finding impressive ways to use very few letters to make brilliant Pentominous puzzles. This elegant 8-letter Pentominous is our best Region Division puzzle of 2022.

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

See these earlier posts 1, 2 for the other Microsoft Puzzle Hunt challenges

Puzzle PDF

Author/Opus: This is the 432nd puzzle from Thomas Snyder, aka Dr. Sudoku.

Hints (in rot13):
1. How do I get started? Gurfr ner bcrengvbayrff GbzGbz/XraXra chmmyrf, rnpu jvgu n havdhr vagrtre frg gnxvat svir inyhrf sebz 1-25 naq ab inyhr funerq npebff tevqf.
2. I’m stumped. How do I break into the puzzles? Znal pyhrf ner cynlshyyl qrprcgvir. 49 qbrf ybbx yvxr 7 gvzrf 7 gvzrf 1. Ohg vg pna nyfb or bgure fhzf yvxr 2K cyhf 2K cyhf L. Nyy guerr 49 pntrf va gurfr nafjref unir n ercrngrq ahzore. Vg znl nyfb uryc gb xabj gur bcrengvbaf sebz yrsg gb evtug va gur frpbaq ebjf ner {+, +, ×}, {+, ×, +}, {+, ×, -}, {-, +, ×}, naq {÷, +, -} va fbzr beqrevat bs gur tevqf.
3. How do I get a final answer? Juvyr gur tevqf ner tvira va {1,?,?,?,?} gb {5,?,?,?,?} beqre — jryy {1,7,8,14,17} gb {5,9,10,13,22} beqre — fbzrguvat ryfr va gur tevqf jvyy freir nf n orggre jnl gb svaq n bar-gb-svir beqrevat urer. Ybbx ng gur fnzr cbfvgvbaf jura ernqvat npebff tevqf ng gur raq gb trg n urycshy vafgehpgvba.

Solution: PDF

Answer String: Enter the final answer (a word or phrase) in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS without spaces to confirm. There may be intermediate answer phrases that are not the final answer; our answer checker is not able to send the message “Keep going” like the Microsoft Hunt solving software does so if you do not see what you expect, treat it like “Keep going” and potentially send an email to us or watch out for hints.

One of our favorite categories, which has a whole host of puzzle styles, is “Shading” puzzles. Today we’re announcing our best of 2022 puzzles in this category, from the 57 posts during the year; all the winners are in this PDF file.

Veteran puzzlemaker Grant Fikes gave us our first “Best Of Shading” puzzle last year with this Cross the Streams (Matching Sections) puzzle. The interlinking within the grid was a fresh idea that our solvers loved. Based off a YouTube comment the author has made another creative subsection puzzle to follow-up on this one.

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

2022 saw a couple new puzzle styles enter our standard rotation and Grandmaster Puzzles Quarterly books, and Aqre (originated by Eric Fox) was selected for two best of puzzle awards. One of the Aqre puzzles that got recognition was this Sunday Stumper by Murat Can Tonta with a “Squares” theme.

or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools; use tab to shift between shading mode and the composite Yajilin mode where left click marks cells, right click marks dots in cells or X’s on edges, left click+drag draws lines.)

Our managing editor, Serkan Yürekli, wrote many incredible puzzles in this past year including this playful Pata puzzle with some very unusual forcing logic to reach the final solution.

or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools; use tab to shift between shading mode and the composite Yajilin mode where left click marks cells, right click marks dots in cells or X’s on edges, left click+drag draws lines.)

Another Aqre puzzle that got lots of FAVEs from our solvers came from Eric Fox with this “sixes” puzzle from the first week we posted puzzles from this genre. A lot of different Aqre tricks are hidden within the region shapes here with just 6 clues.

or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools; use tab to shift between shading mode and the composite Yajilin mode where left click marks cells, right click marks dots in cells or X’s on edges, left click+drag draws lines.)

Our overall best of 2022 Shading puzzle came from Sam Cappleman-Lynes who made a playful planetary theme in this Nurikabe (Cipher) puzzle. Working out how the sun and the few planets form “islands” in “space” was a clever visual and logical theme, emblematic of the best from Grandmaster Puzzles.

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

[This is a repost from our archives with new notes at the top (original post here): This very tough Star Battle from our early 2013 posts had an unusual grid layout. If I were to revisit this theme, I might use tools/different ideas to avoid the shaded cells which are not very common in our Star Battle puzzles. But even with these markings the logical path is a great example of human-designed puzzles with intriguing Aha moments.]

PDF

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

Theme: Boxed In (but it plays out differently than yesterday’s “Boxed In”)

Rules: Standard Star Battle rules. Two stars per row, column, and region.

Estimated Difficulty*: 4.5 stars

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 6:45, Master = 13:30, Expert = 27:00

Solution: PDF and solving video.

Note: Follow this link for other classic Star Battles and this link for Star Battle variations. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Star Battles to get started on. More Star Battle puzzles can be found in The Art of Puzzles, in the books Star Battle and Star Battle 2, and in our beginner-friendly collection Intro to GMPuzzles by Serkan Yürekli.

Today we continue our Best of 2022 posts with the “Object Placement” category. Throughout 2022 we had 44 posts in this area and several outstanding puzzles. The five “best of” puzzles are gathered together in this PDF file.

The first puzzle recognized in this category comes from our newest “contributing puzzlemaster”, Takeya Saikachi of Japan. This Battleships puzzle has minimal information in the outside clues but clever thinking will still let you place the full fleet.

or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools; use tab to alternate between ship placement and shading modes. In ship placement mode, right click gives sea, left click gives circle/square, left click and drag for rounded ships.)

The second puzzle also comes from Takeya Saikachi, this time with a playful “Squares” theme in a Battleships puzzle with a pentomino fleet.

or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools; use tab to alternate between two ship / shape placement modes and a shading mode. In battleship placement mode, right click gives sea, left click gives circle/square, left click and drag for rounded ships.)

Guest contributor Sam Cappleman-Lynes sent along two “best of” puzzles in the object placement category, starting with this Statue Park puzzle with a clean and interesting “Boxes” theme.

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

Sam also got recognition for this Star Battle puzzle that visually looks like a fighter from an iconic Sci-Fi series but embeds some creative logic in the solution as well.

or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools; in composite Star Battle mode a left click places a star, right click in a cell marks off the cell, and a right click on an edge or corner marks in a dot as a placement note.)

Our best puzzles often take a standard genre and present them in an unusual way, which is the case for the top Object Placement puzzle of 2022. This Statue Park (Half and Half) by Murat Can Tonta asks “Where Are the Circles?” and generated a lot of positive reviews for its avant-garde style.

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

[This is a repost from our archives with new notes at the top (original post here): Taking the thermometer shapes to an extreme, “clueless” puzzles like this one are often some of the most interesting Thermo-Sudoku puzzles and require carefully considering the interplay of shapes and digit ranges. Our first week of Thermo-Sudoku puzzles ended with this “Boxed In” challenge with 5 main thermo shapes and no given numbers.]

PDF

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

Theme: Boxed In

Rules: Standard Thermo-Sudoku rules.

Estimated Difficulty*: 3.5 stars

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 5:00, Master = 9:00, Expert = 18:00

Solution: PDF and solving video.

Note: Follow this link for other Tight Fit Sudoku puzzles on this website. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Tight Fit Sudoku to get started on. More Tight Fit Sudoku can be found in our beginner-friendly collection Intro to GMPuzzles by Serkan Yürekli and in Masterpiece Sudoku Mix 2.

Our second site category for the Best of 2022 posts is “Number Placement”, where we had 50 posts during the year. All of the puzzles are gathered together in this PDF file.

We kick off the “best of 2022” number placement with a Kakuro (Hex) puzzle by Murat Can Tonta that had a marvelous solving path with very minimal clues used throughout.

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

Less familiar genres often get recognition during the best of series, particularly when they have a memorable solving path with several Aha moments. Grant Fikes’ Skyscrapers (Haido) with an Evens theme was such a puzzle and received a lot of favorite votes.

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

Our last puzzle of 2022, a Kakuro (Gapped) puzzle by Prasanna Seshadri, also ended up being a best of 2022 puzzle. The grid is fairly open yet follows a nicely hidden logical path throughout.

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

2nd best in the Number Placement category for 2022 was an elegant Skyscrapers (Cipher) by Serkan Yürekli which combined an interesting visual theme with an interesting solving path.

or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools; note that solution checking requires the eleven ciphered clues and the twenty-five interior cells to all be marked)

The top Number Placement puzzle of 2022 was a “milestone” puzzle, the 400th post by Thomas Snyder. This TomTom (Mystery) with just one clue also came with a YouTube video describing the puzzle-making process behind the grid.

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