Cave by Roger Barkan
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: Noah’s Ark
Author/Opus: This is the 9th puzzle from guest contributor Roger Barkan.
Rules: Standard Cave rules.
Difficulty: 4 stars
Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 5:45, Master = 9:15, Expert = 18:30
Solution: PDF; a solution video is also available here.
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.
Nice puzzle … took quite a bit of effort but a logical solve exists … glad to have solved a 4 star puzzle … 🙂
Such a tight logic. I did not not solve the side puzzle to guess why it was named “Noah’s Ark”, but my guess is that it was as open as the ocean.
For the rationale behind the puzzle theme, think less about where the clues are and more about what the clues are. I give the quick description of why at the start of the solution video.