So on 8/26/2026, I was trying to verify this puzzle before the lecture for one of my classes started. And then the professor came with a skateboard and helmet and immediately loaded up the NYT Connections for us to help solve. But I did it earlier that day and STILL decided to give hints. And when he divides the class into small groups, he has all the group names be synonymous with "Group 1" instead of something like "Group 1," "Group 2," etc. to make everyone feel like a winner! Anyways, back to the puzzle. I wanted a 10-cell renban heart centered in the puzzle. But I can't add a 10-cell renban line because with the digits from 1-9, we're only able to add a renban lines with 9 cells. So what did I do? I added a 10th digit. And with this deficit sudoku setup, we're just throwing certain sudoku logic out the window. And yes I know a "vel" (object) means something else but in reality this puzzle is dedicated to uhhh... Vel. The one on ...
Just felt like adding this because why not. Labels under the Genres , Difficulties , and All Labels categories should be self-explanatory. Puzzle Types: Connection - Involves drawing lines to form a network. Example puzzle: Serene Bridges (17) . Instructionless - Involves deducing the rules of a puzzle, often with an example. Example puzzle: The practice puzzles I made for Deckardv's 3rd puzzle night . Loop - Involves drawing lines to form a loop that may cross. Example puzzle: Truly Simple? (28) . Numbers - Involves filling a grid with numbers. Example puzzle: Synergia (41) . Object Placement - Involves placing more abstract objects on a grid. Example puzzle: Light Up (39) . Puzzle Hunt - A more open-ended puzzle genre; solvers often have to find the rules themselves. Example puzzle: MIT Mystery Hunt (will add a blog puzzle here when I make one of this type). Region Division - Involves dividing a grid i...