Wednesday, 28 January 2026

jovi_al

Hi friends! Today is another crossing loop genre from me, Achtelwenden. From a more genuine note, this genre looks really scary, but I promise today's puzzle is gentle. I've also included some tips at the bottom to hopefully make it less daunting. This puzzle is also designed to be solved without needing auxiliary marks like Xs to be more conducive to solving with the Line (Diagonal) mode, but feel free to still use them!

Speaking of "daunting," our new setter premieres soon! Who could it be... 👀

Walker made a non-crossing version of this genre for GAPP a while back, and I'd recommend giving that a solve first, even if you've solved it before: Archive: Tuesday, 5 September 2023

Rules: Draw a loop by connecting the centers of orthogonally or diagonally adjacent cells that passes through every cell exactly once. The loop may intersect itself. Clues indicate the smaller of the two angles the loop forms with itself in that cell, counting up by 45 degrees.

To earn a Speedy Sloth 🦥, solve today's puzzle in 4:44 or less!
To net a Quick Crab 🦀, solve today's puzzle in 10:30 or less!
All other solvers are welcome to their very own Frightened Light-crowned Spinetail 🐦! (Note: this bird has a silly hairdo that, in my opinion, is worth seeing)

Example (Penpa+): https://tinyurl.com/2da2gf38
Puzzle (Penpa+): https://tinyurl.com/23fast59

Tip #1: 1s and 3s both must have a diagonal component to them. Often, only one diagonal is available.
Tip #2: 2s and 4s must either have zero or two diagonal components . If there is only one diagonal available, they mustn't use it!