German Whispers Sudoku by Philip Newman
(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
The advent positions are the same but this gift tag looks like a quite different puzzle than the classic Sudoku from the 3rd. Is this gift going to be for you?

or solve online (using SudokuPad)
Theme: Giften Tag
Author/Opus: This is the 64th puzzle from Philip Newman, part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) team.
Rules: Standard Sudoku rules (insert a number from 1 to 9 into each cell so that no number repeats in any row, column, or bold region). Numbers in cells directly connected on a green line must differ by at least 5. (The cages surrounding some givens are just showing part of the visual theme and have no other meaning.)
GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 8:00; One party hat (🥳): 15:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: Laurasian Long-Neck.
Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 4:26, with SudokuPad replay file shared as a download for now (requires loading via settings menu with improvements expected before people should use this regularly).
Solution: PDF; solving video with explanation to be added later from GAS team.
Note: Follow this link for other less common variations of 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.
