How to play Sliding Puzzle
The sliding puzzle is a board with numbered tiles and one empty gap. Tiles can only move by sliding into the adjacent gap. The goal is to order them from lowest to highest, leaving the gap at the end.
In Grafito, click any tile right next to the gap to slide it. Each board is generated by applying random valid moves from the solved position, so it always has a solution. The counter records your moves for the record.
Sliding Puzzle rules
- Only the tile immediately next to the gap can move (up, down, left or right).
- When a tile moves, it takes the gap's place and frees its previous spot.
- The goal is to order the tiles in ascending order, with the gap in the last cell.
- Your number of moves is counted: the fewer, the better.
Tips & strategy
- Solve in parts: place the top row and the left column first, and don't touch them again.
- Keep shrinking the problem to a smaller and smaller square in the opposite corner.
- Learn the three-tile 'rotation' to place the last two of a row without breaking the rest.
- Think a couple of moves ahead so you don't undo what you've already ordered.
FAQ
How do you solve the sliding puzzle?
You slide the tiles into the gap until they're ordered from lowest to highest. The usual strategy is to place row by row and column by column, shrinking the problem little by little.
Do all boards have a solution?
Yes. They're generated by shuffling the solved position with legal moves, so you'll never face an impossible puzzle.
What sizes are there?
3×3 (8 tiles) in easy, 4×4 (15 tiles) in medium and 5×5 (24 tiles) in hard.
What is the '15 puzzle'?
It's the classic name for the 4×4 sliding puzzle with fifteen numbered tiles, which matches our medium level.
Can I play with the keyboard?
The game is designed for click or tap: you press the tile next to the gap to slide it, on both computer and mobile.
Is it free?
Yes, free and account-free.