While my relocation back to the San Francisco area and new job commitments limited our posts in 2015 compared to other years, we still had almost 200 puzzle posts in 2015 and many amazing puzzles. Today we will be presenting the “Best of 2015” selections, using data from the FAVE button at the bottom of each post. Because of a variable number of solvers over the year (particularly after the hiatus), the selection process included raw FAVE counts, FAVE/solver ratios, and internal discussions when those values brought up ties. We start with our BEST SUDOKU.

This past year, the best Sudoku puzzles featured either arithmetic constraints or series-based constraints. One of our best sudoku featured both, namely this Arrow/Thermo-Sudoku by Prasanna Seshadri.

Another highly rated puzzle was this Killer Sudoku by Serkan Yürekli.

The highest ratings though went to two Thermo-Sudoku. Both were puzzles originally created for the magazines Will Shortz’s Sudoku and Sudoku Spectacular where we regularly contribute puzzles. But these were kept for this site due to their unique look and solving feel.

On the easier end was this very fun Thermo-Sudoku from guest contributor Ashish Kumar.

And on the harder end was this self-titled “THERMO” puzzle from Dr. Sudoku.

We’re working to compile our Best of 2015 puzzles this week and will return after the new year with those posts.

This week marks the debut of our new puzzlemaster: Murat Can Tonta!

Murat has been one of our more prolific guest contributors, and also sent many phenomenal puzzles for The Art of Puzzles 2, coming next year. It is a pleasure to welcome Murat to the GMPuzzles team.

Murat’s debut week will feature a mix of logic puzzle styles, as well as word logic variations. Will there also be another hidden puzzle that makes you look across the site for some kind of link, or just a full week of very fun puzzles? Come back over the next seven days to see what unfolds.

Last week’s mix of puzzles can be found in this PDF.

There will be no new puzzles this week, but next week we’ll be welcoming another puzzlemaster to the ranks as we close out 2015.

Last week’s mix of puzzles from Thomas and Serkan can be found in this PDF.

Next week we’ll have a variety week representing all our puzzle categories, specifically:
Monday: Cave by Grant Fikes
Tuesday: Tapa by Prasanna Seshadri
Wednesday: Nurikabe by Grant Fikes
Thursday: Masyu by John Bulten
Friday: Kakuro (Different Areas) by Prasanna Seshadri
Saturday: Hidden Shape Sudoku by John Bulten

PDF

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

Theme: Clue Symmetry and Logic (Originally for 2015 Arlington Puzzle Festival — playoff puzzle)

Author/Opus: This is the 234th puzzle from Thomas Snyder, aka Dr. Sudoku.

Rules: Standard Sudoku rules.

Answer String: Enter the 3rd row from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 5th column from top to bottom.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 2:30, Master = 4:15, Expert = 8:30

Solution: PDF

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

PDF

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

Theme: Three Ring Circus (Originally for 2015 Arlington Puzzle Festival)

Author/Opus: This is the 233rd puzzle from Thomas Snyder, aka Dr. Sudoku.

Rules: Standard Sudoku rules.

Answer String: Enter the 8th row from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 9th column from top to bottom.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 2:45, Master = 4:30, Expert = 9:00

Solution: PDF

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

PDF

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

Theme: Diagonal Series (Originally for 2015 Arlington Puzzle Festival)

Author/Opus: This is the 232nd puzzle from Thomas Snyder, aka Dr. Sudoku.

Rules: Standard Sudoku rules.

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 = 2:00, Master = 4:15, Expert = 8:30

Solution: PDF

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

PDF

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

Theme: Fan (Originally for 2015 Arlington Puzzle Festival)

Author/Opus: This is the 231st puzzle from Thomas Snyder, aka Dr. Sudoku.

Rules: Standard Sudoku rules.

Answer String: Enter the 1st row from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 9th row from left to right.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 2:15, Master = 3:15, Expert = 6:30

Solution: PDF

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

Last week’s mix of puzzles from Grant and Prasanna can be found in this PDF.

This week will feature a mix of words and numbers, specifically: Sudoku by Thomas Snyder and Word Connection by Serkan Yürekli. Enjoy!