Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
*** TODAY'S PUZZLE ***
Simon is a massive fan of Kaktuslav's sudokus and last week he attempted Blue Cages, a monster from the great man that took him nearly three hours to solve. Tonight's puzzle is called X-ray and it still has a 100% rating. It also clocks in at "only" 3/5 for difficulty so perhaps it's easier than last week's?!
Play the puzzle at the links below:
https://sudokupad.app/2gk2npegiz
Rules:
Normal sudoku rules apply. Place nine circles in the grid: one in each row, column, and 3×3 box, with the digits in the circled cells forming a complete set of 1–9. Digits may not repeat within a cage. If an X is in a row with circled digit A and a column with circled digit B, the digits in the cage containing this X sum to A×B (A and B need not be distinct).
▶ LAST NIGHT'S STREAM: LORELEI AND THE LASER EYES ◀
You can (re)watch tonight's stream of Lorelei and the Laser Eyes here:
youtube.com/live/4x48s0DGAIM
▶ BRAND NEW COMPETITION ON PATREON ◀
Our new competition launched today on Patreon! Solve the nine sudokus to be in with a chance to win! Closing date 20 August. Good luck!
patreon.com/crackingthecryptic
▶ ZETAMATH'S WORM: OUR BRAND NEW APP ◀
We've released a brand new collection of sudoku puzzles by Blobz. The worm features 12 connected sudokus and is a great way to enjoy more creations from this popular constructor:
Steam:
store.steampowered.com/app/4756830/Cracking_the_Cryptic__The_Sudoku_Worm_of_Zetamath
AppStore
apps.apple.com/us/app/cracking-the-cryptic/id1629992934
Android:
play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.StudioGoya.CrackingTheCryptic
All our apps can be found at our website with links to all outlets:
crackingthecryptic.com/apps
▶ NEW MERCHANDISE INCLUDING RAT RUN GOODIES ◀
cracking-the-cryptric-shop.fourthwall.com/en-gbp/collections/rat-run
▶ SIMON & MARK ATTEMPT BLUE PRINCE: THE SUDOKU ◀
This new epic (and epically long) video is now on Patreon (as well as our monthly sudoku hunt competition by Sandra & Nala). Check it all out here:
patreon.com/crackingthecryptic
▶ SVEN’S SUDOKU PAD ◀
Input classic sudoku puzzles into our software. With 12 free puzzles:
iOS: apps.apple.com/us/app/svens-sudokupad/id1570622073
Steam: store.steampowered.com/app/1706870/Svens_SudokuPad
Android: play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.svencodes.sudokupad
Amazon: Search for “SudokuPad”
▶ CTC FAN DISCORD SERVER◀
discord.gg/BbN89j5
▶ OUR VIDEO CATALOGUE – CATEGORISED WITH LINKS◀
tinyurl.com/CTCCatalogue
▶SEND US PUZZLES TO SOLVE/CONTACT US◀
crackingthecryptic@gmail.com
Snailmail: Mark Goodliffe, Box 102, 56 Gloucester Road, London SW7 4UB
▶FOLLOW US◀
Twitter: #crypticcracking
@crypticcracking
Instagram @crackingthecryptic
▶Credits◀
Music: Lucy Audrin (Piano): Mozart's Sonata no 16; and Mark’s outro music by Riffclown.
SOFTWARE: Thanks to Sam Cappleman-Lynes and Sven Neumann
Logo: Melvyn Mainini
Opening Credits: Burak Mescioğlu
▶ Contents Of This Video ◀
0:00 Intro music and puzzle introduction
0:35 Blue Cages by Kaktuslav
1:40 Please help us if you can
2:04 Happy Birthdays
4:03 Rules
7:02 Start of Solve: Let's Get Cracking
#sudoku #puzzle #maths
*** TODAY'S PUZZLE ***
Simon is a massive fan of Kaktuslav's sudokus and last week he attempted Blue Cages, a monster from the great man that took him nearly three hours to solve. Tonight's puzzle is called X-ray and it still has a 100% rating. It also clocks in at "only" 3/5 for difficulty so perhaps it's easier than last week's?!
Play the puzzle at the links below:
https://sudokupad.app/2gk2npegiz
Rules:
Normal sudoku rules apply. Place nine circles in the grid: one in each row, column, and 3×3 box, with the digits in the circled cells forming a complete set of 1–9. Digits may not repeat within a cage. If an X is in a row with circled digit A and a column with circled digit B, the digits in the cage containing this X sum to A×B (A and B need not be distinct).
▶ LAST NIGHT'S STREAM: LORELEI AND THE LASER EYES ◀
You can (re)watch tonight's stream of Lorelei and the Laser Eyes here:
youtube.com/live/4x48s0DGAIM
▶ BRAND NEW COMPETITION ON PATREON ◀
Our new competition launched today on Patreon! Solve the nine sudokus to be in with a chance to win! Closing date 20 August. Good luck!
patreon.com/crackingthecryptic
▶ ZETAMATH'S WORM: OUR BRAND NEW APP ◀
We've released a brand new collection of sudoku puzzles by Blobz. The worm features 12 connected sudokus and is a great way to enjoy more creations from this popular constructor:
Steam:
store.steampowered.com/app/4756830/Cracking_the_Cryptic__The_Sudoku_Worm_of_Zetamath
AppStore
apps.apple.com/us/app/cracking-the-cryptic/id1629992934
Android:
play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.StudioGoya.CrackingTheCryptic
All our apps can be found at our website with links to all outlets:
crackingthecryptic.com/apps
▶ NEW MERCHANDISE INCLUDING RAT RUN GOODIES ◀
cracking-the-cryptric-shop.fourthwall.com/en-gbp/collections/rat-run
▶ SIMON & MARK ATTEMPT BLUE PRINCE: THE SUDOKU ◀
This new epic (and epically long) video is now on Patreon (as well as our monthly sudoku hunt competition by Sandra & Nala). Check it all out here:
patreon.com/crackingthecryptic
▶ SVEN’S SUDOKU PAD ◀
Input classic sudoku puzzles into our software. With 12 free puzzles:
iOS: apps.apple.com/us/app/svens-sudokupad/id1570622073
Steam: store.steampowered.com/app/1706870/Svens_SudokuPad
Android: play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.svencodes.sudokupad
Amazon: Search for “SudokuPad”
▶ CTC FAN DISCORD SERVER◀
discord.gg/BbN89j5
▶ OUR VIDEO CATALOGUE – CATEGORISED WITH LINKS◀
tinyurl.com/CTCCatalogue
▶SEND US PUZZLES TO SOLVE/CONTACT US◀
crackingthecryptic@gmail.com
Snailmail: Mark Goodliffe, Box 102, 56 Gloucester Road, London SW7 4UB
▶FOLLOW US◀
Twitter: #crypticcracking
@crypticcracking
Instagram @crackingthecryptic
▶Credits◀
Music: Lucy Audrin (Piano): Mozart's Sonata no 16; and Mark’s outro music by Riffclown.
SOFTWARE: Thanks to Sam Cappleman-Lynes and Sven Neumann
Logo: Melvyn Mainini
Opening Credits: Burak Mescioğlu
▶ Contents Of This Video ◀
0:00 Intro music and puzzle introduction
0:35 Blue Cages by Kaktuslav
1:40 Please help us if you can
2:04 Happy Birthdays
4:03 Rules
7:02 Start of Solve: Let's Get Cracking
#sudoku #puzzle #maths
