Nurikabe by Grant Fikes

Nurikabe by Grant Fikes

PDF

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

Theme: Clue Symmetry

Author/Opus: This is the 86th puzzle from our contributing puzzlemaster Grant Fikes.

Rules: Standard Nurikabe rules.

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 = 1:15, Master = 2:00, Expert = 4:00

Solution: PDF

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

Best of 2013: Shading Puzzles

Shading puzzles are amongst our favorite puzzles here at GMPuzzles. They are our most crowded category amongst non-Sudoku styles as we now regularly offer four puzzle styles in this genre. But this shouldn’t be a huge surprise; when you have the original designers of Tapa (Serkan Yürekli) and Cross the Streams (Grant Fikes) as contributors, you’re going to see a lot of shading puzzles.

Because of the crowded genre, and many high vote recipients (this is our most popular category!), we awarded six puzzles the “Best of” status for 2013.

While a bit of a novelty, the Tapa Group Think by Serkan Yürekli which we posted in September was definitely enjoyed by a number of solvers.

Tapa by Serkan Yürekli

The variation Tapa (Pentomino) from Dr. Sudoku also received a large number of votes in this category.

Tapa by Thomas Snyder

An absolutely spectacular Cross the Streams, Two Hard!, happened during Grant’s first week on the site. A lot of solvers gave it two thumbs up.

Cross The Streams by Grant Fikes

Nurikabe was the home to the most top ranked puzzles in this category, though. Tied for 2nd amongst the Nurikabe were the 72nd Prescription from April

Nurikabe by Thomas Snyder

and the Nurikabe Time puzzle from the second week of January which is the second “clock” theme to make the top of the listings.

Nurikabe Time by Thomas Snyder

But the winner of the category, with a few more votes than any other puzzle, was the “Crypt-Oceanography” variation written by Dr. Sudoku in May. Our test-solvers will remember well that this Nurikabe Cipher puzzle went through a few drafts before it was just right*.

Nurikabe by Thomas Snyder

You’ll find all of these excellent shading puzzles gathered together in this PDF.

* (That the world changed its four ocean model to a five ocean model in 2000 did not change the way Dr. Sudoku counts the oceans. Similarly, any planetary themed puzzles are still likely to include Pluto if it helps the logic.)

Detuned Broadcast #14: Nurikabe

Nurikabe by Tom Collyer

PDF

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

Theme: Baby in a Corner

Rules: Standard Nurikabe rules.

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 = 1:15, Master = 2:00, Expert = 4:00

Solution: PDF

This is a Melon puzzle. (17 – Nurikabe Scrabble)

Nurikabe Scrabble by Palmer Mebane

(View image directly for larger form.)

PDF

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

Theme: String Lengths

Rules: Variation of Nurikabe and Scrabble/Criss-Cross puzzles.

Place the 12 number strings into the grid, reading from left to right or from top to bottom, so they are all connected criss-cross style and also form a valid Nurikabe ocean. No unlisted string can appear anywhere, not even two-character ones, and the strings do not occupy any 2×2 area. The remaining white cells are part of islands as in a Nurikabe puzzle. Each island is represented by one number in the grid which equals its size in cells.

Or see this example from the 22nd WPC instruction booklet.

Answer String: For each column from left to right, enter the total count of zeroes from the entered strings. Enter the result as a single string (eg “401120…”)

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 7:00, Master = 15:00, Expert = 30:00

Solution: PDF

From the Foxger’s Den #57: Sashikabe

Sashikabe by Grant Fikes

PDF

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

Theme: Logic

Rules: Hybrid of Nurikabe and Sashigane, originally created by Grant Fikes. Standard Nurikabe rules are in place for the “ocean” (connected and no 2×2 squares) but the island rules have changed as follows:
1. All islands must be L-shaped and one cell wide. Islands cannot share an edge.
2. An arrow clue points from an end of an island towards the bend in the middle.
3. A circle clue indicates the bend in the middle of an island; if a number is also present, this is the size of the island in cells.
4. An island can have 0, 1, or more of these clues given.

Also see this example and solution by Thomas Snyder:

Sashikabe by Thomas Snyder

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 = 5:00, Master = 6:30, Expert = 13:00

Solution: PDF

The Puzzle Robot #3 – Islands of Numbers

Island of Numbers by Serkan Yürekli

PDF

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

Theme: Hidden words (each row of letters forms an English word like SERF.)

Rules: Put each number (given as a word) into the grid, one letter per cell, as a snakelike strip which does not touch or cross itself. Some letters of the words are given. The remaining cells should be painted black to form a continuous wall as in a Nurikabe puzzle with no 2×2 shaded regions. Or see here.

Answer String: Enter the contents of each marked column from top to bottom, using X (capital letter) for each blackened square and capital letters for each island cell, and separating the columns with a comma.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 2:30, Master = 3:30, Expert = 7:00

Solution: PDF

Detuned Broadcast #8: Nurikabe

Nurikabe by Tom Collyer

PDF

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

Theme: 64

Rules: Standard Nurikabe rules.

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 = 1:00, Master = 2:00, Expert = 4:00

Solution: PDF

Detuned Broadcast #3: Nurikabe

Nurikabe by Tom Collyer

PDF

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

Theme: Paired Islands

Rules: Standard Nurikabe rules.

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 = 1:00, Master = 1:20, Expert = 2:40

Solution: PDF

From the Foxger’s Den #26: Nurikabe

Nurikabe by Grant Fikes

PDF

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

Theme: 6 (according to the author, inspired by the Sesame Street song “My Favorite Number is 6” which might give a hint to a future puzzle?)

Rules: Standard Nurikabe rules.

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 = 1:00, Master = 1:30, Expert = 3:00

Solution: PDF

From the Foxger’s Den #23: Nurikabe

Nurikabe by Grant Fikes

PDF

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

Theme: Powers of Two

Rules: Standard Nurikabe rules.

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 = 1:15, Master = 1:45, Expert = 3:30

Solution: PDF