(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
Join some old friends in this combination of two popular GAS variants, Thermo- and Kropki Pairs, appearing together without other variants for the first time in GAS.

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: Old Friends

Author/Opus: This is the 77th puzzle from Philip Newman, 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. Some thermometer shapes are in the grid; numbers must be strictly increasing from the round bulb to the flat end. Also, if a white circle is given between two adjacent cells, then the two numbers in those cells must differ by 1. If a black circle is given between two adjacent cells, then the two numbers must have a ratio of 2. Pairs of cells without circles can have any relationship.

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 7:00; One party hat (🥳): 13:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: Pairwise Pachysuchus.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 3:00, 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 and solving video with explanation 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.

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
Today’s Genuinely Approachable Sudoku is a pair of Classics; will 76 (or is it 77?) given digits across two puzzles satisfy Bill? Note: If you’re up for the challenge, the bonus version of the first puzzle is missing one digit. (Note: The bonus version of the 1st puzzle is shown here in order to not reveal the “extra” given; the PDF and SudokuPad links for the 1st puzzle will show the full grid if you do not want the extra hard edition).

PDF (bonus version of #1)

PDF (GAS version of #1)

PDF (#2)

or solve the bonus puzzle online (*very hard without a specific technique!)
or solve the 1st puzzle online
or solve the 2nd puzzle online (all using SudokuPad)

Theme: Ocean’s Forty-Five; A 32 Digit Tour

Author/Opus: This is the 76th 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.

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Note that today the hat times apply to the combined times for the two puzzles; if you attempt the bonus, reset the timer when you find the missing digit! Two party hats (🎩🥳): 6:00; One party hat (🥳): 15:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: Memorable Maojandino.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 2:11 (bonus version) and 1:41, with SudokuPad replay file #1 and replay #2 shared as downloads for now (requires loading via settings menu with improvements expected before people should use this regularly).

Solution: PDF #1 and PDF #2 and solving video with explanation from GAS team.

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

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
You might need to take advantage of some Brain Zaps to get started in this German Whispers Sudoku by Philip Newman.

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: Brain Zaps

Author/Opus: This is the 75th 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.

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 8:30; One party hat (🥳): 16:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: Lengthy Lancangosaurus.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 5:06, 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 and solving video with explanation 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.

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
What magic are the white and black dots working in this puzzle?

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: Kropki Magic

Author/Opus: This is the 74th 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). If a white circle is given between two adjacent cells, then the two numbers in those cells must differ by 1. If a black circle is given between two adjacent cells, then the two numbers must have a ratio of 2. Pairs of cells without circles can have any relationship.

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 6:30; One party hat (🥳): 13:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: Lollygagging Liujianpus.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 2:08, 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.

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
With a new year comes the return of some frequent variations we love here at GMPuzzles. Enjoy this 2026-themed Thermo-Sudoku.

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: New Year Who Dis

Author/Opus: This is the 73rd puzzle from Philip Newman, part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) team.

Rules: Standard Thermo-Sudoku rules. (Insert a number from 1 to 9 into each cell so that no number repeats in any row, column, or bold region. Some thermometer shapes are in the grid; numbers must be strictly increasing from the round bulb to the flat end.)

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 9:00; One party hat (🥳): 18:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: New-ish Navahopodid.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 4:58, 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 and solving video with explanation 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.

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
This Killer Sudoku variation requires you to split the lines into subsections or “cages” as you’d typically see to get all the summation constraints needed to solve the grid. The idea for this variation choice came from a donation, so you can thank Malrog in various ways for the puzzle.

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: Blame Malrog

Author/Opus: This is the 72nd 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). Also, divide each line into subsections so that each cell on the line belongs to exactly one subsection, and each subsection contains exactly one number clue. Each subsection acts as a Killer cage: values in a subsection cannot repeat and must sum to the total given by that subsection’s number clue. (Numbers *can* repeat on a line if allowed by other rules, as long as those numbers are in different subsections.)

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 10:00; One party hat (🥳): 20:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: Novel Nanotyrannus… to the tune of “Modern Major General” (https://youtube.com/shorts/ctsGNbMkVSM).

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 4:54, 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 and solving video with explanation from GAS team.

Note: Follow this link for more Killer Sudoku and this link for classic Sudoku. More Killer Sudoku puzzles can be found in Killer Sudoku by Serkan Yürekli.

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.

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
With the Advent calendar finished, Philip is surely returning to some more regular puzzles, right?

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: Just A Fib

Author/Opus: This is the 71st 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 white circles must appear in at least one of the four surrounding cells.

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

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 2:33, 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 and solving video with explanation 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.

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
Today’s Genuinely Approachable Sudoku is actually three 6×6 Arrow Sudoku: a real “Buy None Get Three” treat. Note: Grid “22” is much more difficult than “23” and “24” despite similar appearances and considered a “bonus”.

PDF

or solve grid 22 online (*Harder bonus)
or solve grid 23 online
or solve grid 24 online (all using SudokuPad)

Theme: Buy None Get Three

Author/Opus: This is the 70th puzzle from Philip Newman, part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) team.

Rules: Standard Arrow Sudoku rules: Insert a number from 1 to 6 into each cell so that no number repeats in any row, column, or bold region). Some arrow shapes are in the grid; the sum of the numbers along the path of each arrow must equal the number in the circled cell. Numbers can repeat within an arrow shape.

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Note that today the hat times apply to the combined times for grids 23 and 24; 22 is a bonus for top solvers to try to also do with the others within the hat times. Two party hats (🎩🥳): 6:00; One party hat (🥳): 12:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: Free-Range Faveoloolithid.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 3:26 (22) + 0:37 (23) + 0:33 (24), with SudokuPad replay files for 22, 23, 24 all shared as downloads for now (requires loading via settings menu with improvements expected before people should use this regularly).

Solution: PDF and solving video with explanation from GAS team.

Note: Follow this link for more Arrow Sudoku. If you are new to this puzzle type, here are our easiest Arrow Sudoku to get started on. More Arrow Sudoku puzzles can be found in these books in our e-store.

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.

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
To get the numbers 19, 20, and 21 to work in an Advent puzzle, Philip has expanded this grid to 10×10 size and a lot of 0, 1, 2, and 9 values are given. Can you solve this extra large challenge?

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: Short Day, Long Puzzle

Author/Opus: This is the 69th puzzle from Philip Newman, part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) team.

Rules: Variation of Sudoku rules (insert a number from 0 to 9 into each cell so that no number repeats in any row, column, or bold region). If a white circle is given between two adjacent cells, then the two numbers in those cells must differ by 1. If a black circle is given between two adjacent cells, then the two numbers must have a ratio of 2. Pairs of cells without circles can have any relationship.

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 10:00; One party hat (🥳): 25:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: Archaic Amphisaurus.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 6:22, 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 and solving video with explanation 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.

(This post is part of the Genuinely Approachable Sudoku (GAS) series.)
The Advent calendar continues with an anti constraint that will separate the solvers who read the instructions from those who jump right in.

PDF

or solve online (using SudokuPad)

Theme: Keep ‘Em Separated

Author/Opus: This is the 68th 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). No two orthogonally adjacent cells can be consecutive (i.e., differ by 1).

GAS Time Standards (highlight to view): Two party hats (🎩🥳): 9:00; One party hat (🥳): 20:00. All other solvers earn a 🦕: Misnamed Megadactylus.

Thomas Hits the GAS (highlight to view): 2:21, 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 and solving video with explanation from GAS team.

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

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.