Our Longest Solve Ever (Patreon)

As promised, here is a ridiculously long video in which Simon does battle with a truly astonishing creation: Region Geometry by Emre Kolotoglu.  It's a puzzle that we've been aware of for a while but we've been afraid of trying because Emre himself wrote to us and told us it wouldn't be suitable for a video as it would take too long to solve!!

If you take a look at the grid, you'll see why it's so daunting.  We have absolutely no idea how Emre came up with this - let alone how it's possible it exists with so few clues but, if you enjoy  VERY difficult sudokus, this is for you!

The original Logic Masters page is here:

https://logic-masters.de/Raetselportal/Raetsel/zeigen.php?id=0009WX

Have a go at the puzzle here: 

https://sudokupad.app/ow2xxw0lha  

Rules: Each row, column, and region must contain the digits from 1 to 9 exactly once. Each region is a set of orthogonally connected cells and must be determined by the solver. Clues outside the grid represent any integers from 1 to 9 inclusive, and they act as both skyscraper and numbered room clues with additional region constraints. Skyscrapers: Considering each digit in the grid as a skyscraper of that height, clues outside the grid indicate the number of skyscrapers seen from that direction where taller skyscrapers hide the shorter ones. For each clue, all visible skyscrapers must be in different regions. Numbered rooms: Clues outside the grid indicate the digit in the Nth cell from that direction where N is the digit in the first cell from that direction. For black clues, the first and Nth cells must be in the same region. Red clues may or may not obey this region constraint.

Simon's solve:

https://youtu.be/vjoCVz9movE