Redlaw Puzzles: The Comprehensive Logic & Puzzle Glossary
A definitive guide to the world of puzzle architecture, logic variants, and cognitive terminology. Curated by Lee Walder, Bristol, UK.
Core Redlaw Terms
2D Maze: A traditional flat-plane labyrinth requiring linear pathfinding logic.
3D Maze: A multi-dimensional labyrinth where paths overlap, requiring advanced spatial mapping.
A4 Format: International standard paper size (210 x 297mm) provided in all Redlaw downloads.
Algorithmic Integrity: The Redlaw process of using software logic to ensure a unique solution exists.
Bristol Standard: The engineering-grade quality control applied to puzzles by founder Lee Walder.
Picture Sudoku: A logic variant using icons or shapes to test visual-spatial deduction.
US Letter: North American standard paper size (8.5 x 11 inches) provided in all Redlaw downloads.
Word Find: A high-density grid focused on locating specific thematic words.
Word Scramble: An anagram-based puzzle requiring the deconstruction of jumbled letters.
Word Search: A grid-based puzzle where words are hidden in horizontal, vertical, or diagonal lines.
Puzzle Variants & Logic Terms
ABC Path: A logic puzzle where letters A-Y must be placed in a grid based on edge clues.
Akari (Light Up): A puzzle involving placing lightbulbs to illuminate all white cells.
Antiknight Sudoku: A Sudoku variant where cells a knight’s move apart cannot contain the same digit.
Arrow Sudoku: Numbers on an arrow must sum to the number in the attached circle.
Asterisk Sudoku: An extra region formed by 9 specific cells must contain digits 1-9.
Backtracking: A problem-solving method that discards solutions that fail to satisfy constraints.
Battleships: A logic puzzle based on the game, deducing the location of hidden ships.
Binary Puzzle: A grid filled with 0s and 1s following specific parity rules.
Bridges (Hashiwokakero): A puzzle where bridges connect islands according to number clues.
Calcudoku: A mathematical puzzle similar to Sudoku but involving arithmetic operations.
Campixu: A picture-forming logic puzzle based on grid-shading.
Castle Wall: A loop-building puzzle where clues indicate the length of segments inside or outside the wall.
Cave (Bag): A puzzle where a single loop must contain all clue numbers within its “sight.”
Center Dot Sudoku: A variant where the center cell of each 3×3 block forms an extra 1-9 set.
Chain Sudoku: A variant where circles are linked in a chain, requiring sequential logic.
Chessboard Sudoku: A grid where no two identical digits can be a knight’s move apart.
Consecutive Sudoku: A grid where special markers indicate that adjacent cells contain consecutive numbers.
Cross Sums: The original name for Kakuro; a crossword-style puzzle using numbers.
Daisies: A word puzzle where words are arranged in a circular, petal-like pattern.
Diagonal Sudoku (Sudoku X): A variant where the two main diagonals must also contain digits 1-9.
Digital Path: A pathfinding puzzle involving the sequential connection of digits.
Domino Hunt: A grid of numbers where the solver must find all possible domino pairings.
Dots and Boxes: A classic game turned logic puzzle involving territorial capture.
Dual Grid: A puzzle system using two overlapping grids to create complex constraints.
Edge Logic: Using the outer boundaries of a grid to determine the starting point of a solve.
Even-Odd Sudoku: A variant where specific cells are designated to hold only even or odd digits.
Fillomino: A puzzle where the grid is divided into polyominoes of specific sizes.
Five Cells: A puzzle involving drawing boundaries so each region contains exactly five cells.
Flow Free: A pathfinding puzzle where all same-coloured dots must be connected without crossing.
Frame Sudoku: Clues outside the grid show the sum of the first three numbers in that row or column.
Free-form Sudoku: Also known as Jigsaw; uses irregular shapes instead of 3×3 blocks.
Futoshiki: An inequality puzzle using “greater than” or “less than” symbols between cells.
Galaxies (Tentai Show): A puzzle where the grid is divided into rotationally symmetric shapes.
Gaps: A puzzle requiring the placement of objects with a specific number of empty cells between them.
Gherkin: A niche logic loop puzzle involving specific directional constraints.
Goalkeeper: A sports-themed logic puzzle involving trajectory and placement.
Gokigen Naname: A puzzle where diagonal lines are drawn in cells to avoid creating loops.
Grand Tour: A puzzle requiring a single continuous loop that visits every cell in the grid.
Greater Than Sudoku: A Sudoku variant using only inequality signs as clues.
Griddlers: Another name for Nonograms or Picross; shading cells to reveal a picture.
Hanjie: A Japanese term for picture-forming logic puzzles.
Hashi: Short for Hashiwokakero; a bridge-building logic puzzle.
Heyawake: A puzzle where rooms are shaded according to rules of connectivity and spacing.
Hitori: A puzzle where numbers are shaded out so no duplicates remain in any row or column.
Honeycomb: A word or logic puzzle based on a hexagonal grid.
Hydroponics: A niche logic puzzle involving “growth” paths and fluid-flow constraints.
Icebarn: A path-making puzzle where the path must slide across “ice” cells without stopping.
Inequalities: The mathematical symbols (< and >) are used to define relationships in logic grids.
Irregular Sudoku: A grid where the 9-cell regions are not squares but irregular polyominoes.
Jigsaw Sudoku: Requires placement of 1-9 in non-standard shapes.
Kakuro: A cross-sum puzzle where digits must add up to clues without repeating in a run.
Kanji: A puzzle based on Japanese characters, often involving stroke order or meaning.
KenKen: An arithmetic logic puzzle where cells are grouped into “cages” with math operations.
Killer Sudoku: A Sudoku variant using “cages” that must sum to a specific total.
King’s Court: A Sudoku variant where the same digits cannot be a King’s move apart in chess.
Knights Move Sudoku: Digits a knight’s move apart must be unique.
Kuromasu: A puzzle where cells are shaded to leave a single connected white area.
Kurotto: A puzzle where circles are shaded based on the sum of adjacent shaded cells.
LITS: A puzzle where polyomino shapes are placed in regions without forming 2×2 blocks.
Latin Square: An n x n grid where each symbol appears exactly once in each row and column.
Light Up: See Akari.
Link-a-Pix: A picture puzzle where pairs of numbers are connected by a line of that length.
Loop-the-Loop: A puzzle where a single continuous loop is drawn following number clues.
Magic Square: A grid where the sum of every row, column, and diagonal is the same.
Magnets: A puzzle where the grid is filled with magnetic plates (positive/negative poles).
Masayu: A variation of the Masyu loop puzzle.
Masyu (Pearl Puzzle): A loop puzzle using white and black pearls as directional clues.
Mastermind: A code-breaking game involving logical deduction of colours and positions.
Mathematical Logic: The use of formal systems and variables to deduce a result.
Meander Maze: A maze designed with a winding, non-branching single path.
Minesweeper: A puzzle where numbers indicate the count of adjacent “mines.”
Mirror Maze: A puzzle where a “light beam” must be reflected by mirrors to reach a goal.
Moon-or-Sun: A loop puzzle where the path must alternate between sun and moon symbols.
Multi-Level Maze: A 3D pathfinding challenge spanning several layers.
Nanro: A puzzle where numbers are placed in regions so that no identical numbers touch.
Nemo: A niche logic puzzle involving “finding” objects based on sonar-style clues.
Nonograms (Picross): A puzzle where grid cells are shaded to create a hidden image.
Number Link: A puzzle where pairs of numbers must be connected by non-crossing lines.
Number Place: The original name for Sudoku in Japan.
Nurikabe: A puzzle where cells are shaded to form “islands” and a “sea.”
Orbit: A logic puzzle involving circular paths around central points.
Paint by Numbers: The common name for Nonograms.
Partition: Dividing a grid into distinct, non-overlapping regions.
Patchwork: A puzzle involving the filling of a grid with specific geometric shapes.
Pathfinding: The logical process of finding a route between two points in a maze.
Pentominoes: Shapes made of five squares used in tiling or logic puzzles.
Pic-a-Pix: A common synonym for picture logic puzzles.
Pipe Link: A puzzle where sections of pipe must be connected to form a single system.
Pointer: A puzzle where clues point towards the location of hidden objects.
Polyominoes: Geometric shapes formed by joining equal squares edge-to-edge.
Quadrature: Dividing a square into smaller, specific square units.
Rakugaki: A Japanese “doodle” puzzle involving shading and visual patterns.
Rect Slider: A puzzle involving moving rectangles within a confined grid space.
Ripple Effect: A puzzle where the distance between identical numbers is regulated by the number itself.
Roman Sudoku: A Sudoku variant using Roman numerals (I through IX).
Rundweg: The German term for Slitherlink or “round trip.”
Sashigane: A puzzle involving L-shaped regions with specific corner clues.
Satogaeri: A puzzle where circles are moved into regions based on number clues.
Shakashaka: A puzzle where triangles are placed in cells to form white rectangles.
Shikaku (Divide by Squares): Dividing a grid into rectangles of specific areas.
Shinro: A puzzle where arrows indicate the count of hidden items in a row/column.
Shiritori: A word puzzle where the last letter of one word is the first of the next.
Slitherlink (Fences): Connecting dots to form a single loop based on numerical clues.
Snake: Drawing a single path (the snake) through a grid without it touching itself.
Spatial Awareness: The ability to understand and manipulate 2D and 3D shapes.
Star Battle: Placing stars in a grid so that none touch, even diagonally.
Sternenhimmel: A “starry sky” puzzle involving the placement of points based on view-clues.
Streamline: A path-filling puzzle where every cell must be visited exactly once.
Suguru (Tectonic): Filling regions with digits 1 through N without adjacent duplicates.
Sujiko: A puzzle where the sum of four surrounding cells must match a central number.
Sukazu: A numerical puzzle involving non-repeating digits in designated paths.
Sum Sudoku: Another name for Killer Sudoku.
Symmetrie-Sudoku: A grid where the clues are placed in a rotationally symmetric pattern.
Tapa: A puzzle where cells are shaded to form a single wall based on numerical clues.
Tasquare: A puzzle involving shading squares to satisfy specific area counts.
Tenner Grid: A grid where each row contains 0-9 and columns sum to a specific total.
Tents (Tents and Trees): Placing tents next to trees so they don’t touch each other.
Thermometer Sudoku: Digits in “thermometer” shapes must increase from the bulb end.
Three-in-a-Row: Filling a grid with two symbols so no three of the same are adjacent.
Tic-Tac-Toe Logic: Applying “X and O” rules to larger, constrained grids.
Topology: The study of geometric properties that are preserved under deformations.
Towers (Skyscrapers): Placing numbers representing heights so specific counts are “visible” from edges.
Tracks: A puzzle involving the placement of railway track segments to form a circuit.
Trailblazer: A pathfinding puzzle where the route must follow specific terrain rules.
Triad: A logic puzzle involving groups of three symbols or numbers.
Tridoku: A Sudoku variant played on a triangular grid.
Triplets: A puzzle where no three identical symbols can appear consecutively.
Ubongo: A geometric puzzle involving fitting specific shapes into a designated area.
Undead: A logic puzzle involving monsters and mirrors.
Unique Solution: The gold standard of a Redlaw puzzle; only one possible correct answer exists.
Vector Graphics: High-resolution mathematical format for sharp printing.
Visual Discrimination: The cognitive ability to distinguish between different shapes and patterns.
Walls: A logic puzzle involving the placement of partitions to divide a grid.
Water Pipes: A path puzzle involving the connection of flow sources to outlets.
Wavy Sudoku: A variant where rows or columns are curved or distorted.
Wheel Sudoku: A circular Sudoku where numbers are placed in concentric rings and spokes.
Windoku: A Sudoku variant with four extra 3×3 “window” regions.
Word Chain: A series of words where each follows the previous by changing one letter.
Word Ladder: A classic puzzle transforming one word into another through step-changes.
Word Wheel: Finding as many words as possible from a central hub of letters.
X-Wing: An advanced Sudoku solving technique involving parallel candidate elimination.
Yajilin: A puzzle involving drawing a loop and shading cells based on arrow clues.
Yohaku: A grid puzzle where the sum or product of rows/columns must match clues.
Zen Logic: A philosophy of calm, focused problem-solving through minimal clues.
Zig-Zag: A word or number puzzle where the path of entry moves in a staggered fashion.