PDF

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

Theme: Triples

Author/Opus: This is the 89th puzzle from our contributing puzzlemaster Grant Fikes.

Rules: Standard Kurotto rules.

Answer String: Enter the length in cells of each of the shaded 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 = 1:15, Master = 1:45, Expert = 3:30

Solution: PDF

Note: This is our second Kurotto puzzle; if you are new to this puzzle type please first try out the example on the Rules and Info and yesterday’s puzzle.

PDF

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

Theme: Clue Symmetry and Logic

Author/Opus: This is the 88th puzzle from our contributing puzzlemaster Grant Fikes.

Rules: Standard Kurotto rules.

Answer String: Enter the length in cells of each of the shaded 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 = 1:15, Master = 1:45, Expert = 3:30

Solution: PDF

Note: This is our first Kurotto puzzle; if you are new to this puzzle type please first try out the example on the Rules and Info page.

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

And we now have a bonus video “talk-through” of the Friday Fillomino puzzle posted on our Patreon page here.

Next week we’ll be debuting a new puzzle style for all six days. What will it be? There might be a few more “easy” puzzles than usual, but with a new type it made sense to start out slow. The bonus puzzle for our high-level supporters will be a Consecutive Sudoku by Thomas Snyder.

Now that we’ve had a few weeks of a “variety one-week, focus on one style the next week” pattern, what do you think of our updated format?

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: Logical Variation

Author/Opus: This is the 87th puzzle from our contributing puzzlemaster Grant Fikes.

Rules: Variation of Slitherlink rules. The loop may now intersect itself at a point (it still may not coincide anywhere). At any dot at which more than 2 segments meet, the segments must all travel straight through the dot. This example may help:

Answer String: For each marked row, enter the length in cells of each connected group inside the loop from left to right. Separate each row’s entry with a comma. Shading the loop so that each fence separates a shaded/unshaded cell can help identify what is inside. For the example, the answer would be “11,12”.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 4:00, Master = 6:30, Expert = 13:00

Solution: PDF

Note: Follow this link for other Slitherlink variations and this link for 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 alternate between a composite mode for line/edge drawing and a number entry mode.)

Theme: Hearts and Kisses (a visual theme for 2/14)

Author/Opus: This is the 161st puzzle from Thomas Snyder aka Dr. Sudoku.

Rules: Standard Fillomino rules.

Answer String: For each cell in the marked rows/columns, enter the area of the polyomino it belongs to. Enter both digits of any two-digit values. Start with the 5th row, followed by a comma, followed by the 7th row.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 4:00, Master = 7:00, Expert = 14:00

Solution: PDF; a solution video is available here.

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

PDF

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

Theme: Heart-Shaped Box

Author/Opus: This is the 160th puzzle from Thomas Snyder aka Dr. Sudoku.

Rules: Standard Isodoku rules, using numbers 1-8.

Answer String: Enter the 5th “row” from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 8th “row” from left to right.

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

Solution: PDF

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

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.

PDF

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

Theme: Twos-day

Author/Opus: This is the 18th puzzle from our contributing puzzlemaster Tom Collyer.

Rules: Standard Skyscrapers rules.

Answer String: Enter the 1st row from left to right, followed by a comma, followed by the 5th row from left to right.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 1:00, Master = 2:00, Expert = 4:00

Solution: PDF

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

PDF

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

Theme: Star-Crossed

Author/Opus: This is the 159th puzzle from Thomas Snyder aka Dr. Sudoku.

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

Answer String: For each row from top to bottom, enter the number of the first column from the left where a star appears. Enter these numbers as a single string with no separators.

Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 1:20, Master = 1:45, Expert = 3:30

Solution: PDF

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

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

If you enjoyed this past week of Tapa, there are many more to enjoy in the Tapa+Nurikabe e-book we are sending out to our high-level supporters later today. This e-book will also be available here in several weeks after our website is properly set-up for PayPal purchases. The next section of The Art of Puzzles to be released will be Masyu+Slitherlink which should be ready by early March at the latest.

Next week will be another variety week with these puzzles (highlight to view):

Monday: Star Battle by Thomas Snyder
Tuesday: Skyscrapers by Tom Collyer (a related skyscrapers from Tom is this week’s bonus)
Wednesday: Nurikabe by Grant Fikes
Thursday: Isodoku by Thomas Snyder
Friday: Fillomino by Thomas Snyder
Saturday: Slitherlink variation by Grant Fikes