The cages here are helpful in telling you the largest number they contain. But how is that enough to provide a unique solution, you ask? Stick to deliberate thinking for long enough and you may just find out.

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)
or solve online (using Penpa-Plus; originally posted as a backup)

Author/Opus: This is the 40th puzzle from Clover, part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) team.

Rules: Insert a number from 1 to 9 into each cell so that no number repeats in any row, column, or bold region. Also, the largest number in each cage is given in the upper-left corner of that cage.

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 8:00; One party hat (🥳): 16:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: sussy Succinodon.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 4:18, with Penpa Plus replay this time.

Solution: PDF; solving video with explanation to be added later from GAS team.

Note: Follow this link for more Thermo-Sudoku puzzles. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Thermo-Sudoku to get started on. More Thermo-Sudoku puzzles can be found in these books in our e-store. Also, visit this page to purchase all of the puzzles from the 16th World Sudoku Championship including some Thermo-Sudoku.

Note 2: Comments on the blog are great! For a more interactive discussion, please also consider using our Daily GAS discussion post on the GMPuzzles Discord. Not a member of the Discord? Click this link for basic access.