Little Killer Sudoku
Clues outside the grid give the sum of a diagonal
Easy
Little Killer Sudoku Easy
Medium
Little Killer Sudoku Medium
Hard
Little Killer Sudoku Hard
Expert
Little Killer Sudoku Expert
What is Little Killer Sudoku?
Little Killer Sudoku places clues outside the grid along with a diagonal arrow. The arrow points to a diagonal stripe of cells, and the clue gives the sum of all digits along that diagonal. Unlike standard Killer Sudoku cages, digits CAN repeat on Little Killer diagonals as long as they don't violate the row/column/box rules. This makes the arithmetic different from standard cage solving.
At a Glance
| Constraint type | Outside Clues |
| Typical givens | 0–6 given digits |
| Difficulty rating | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Avg. solve time — Easy | 14 min |
| Avg. solve time — Medium | 28 min |
| Avg. solve time — Hard | 55 min |
| Avg. solve time — Expert | 88 min |
How to Solve Little Killer Sudoku
| Technique | What it does | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Diagonal Enumeration | For each clue, enumerate all combinations of N digits (allowing repeats, 1–9) that sum to the clue value. | Beginner |
| Repeating Digits Allowed | Unlike Killer cages, Little Killer diagonals can repeat digits as long as standard row/column/box uniqueness is preserved. | Beginner |
| Short Diagonal Logic | A 1-cell diagonal directly gives that cell's digit. A 2-cell diagonal with clue C has limited pairs — enumerate them immediately. | Intermediate |
| Cross-Diagonal Intersection | When two diagonals share a cell, the shared cell must satisfy both sum constraints simultaneously. | Advanced |
| Row/Column Interaction | A diagonal cell belongs to a row, column, and box — combine Little Killer sum constraints with standard uniqueness rules. | Intermediate |
Average Solve Times
Easy
14 min
Medium
28 min
Hard
55 min
Expert
88 min
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a 'diagonal' here?
A Little Killer diagonal is a sequence of cells running diagonally from an outside arrow clue, in the direction indicated by the arrow.
Can the sum repeat any digit?
Yes — digits can repeat on a Little Killer diagonal, unlike Killer cages.
Are given digits provided inside the grid?
Some puzzles include a few given digits; others provide only the outside clues.