How to Play Number Path
Begin at checkpoint 1 and draw a single path through neighboring squares. The path may move up, down, left, or right, but never diagonally. Continue through checkpoint 2, then 3, and every later checkpoint in numerical order.
A finished path must cover the whole grid. No square can be visited twice, the route cannot cross or split, and the highest checkpoint must be the final square. You can drag across the board, tap squares one at a time, or use the keyboard on desktop.
Number Path Rules
- Start at checkpoint 1.
- Visit all numbered checkpoints in ascending order.
- Move only between orthogonally adjacent squares.
- Use every square exactly once.
- Keep one continuous path with no branches or crossings.
- Reach the largest checkpoint only after every other square is covered.
How Numbered Checkpoints Guide the Route
Checkpoints fix the order of the route without revealing every turn. A nearby checkpoint can make a direction obvious, but you still need to preserve enough open space to visit later numbers and fill the board.
The numbers describe visit order, not distance. Checkpoint 4 does not need to sit four squares from checkpoint 3, and the path may travel through many ordinary squares between them.
Board Sizes and Difficulty Levels
The 5×5 boards are compact introductions, while 6×6 is the balanced default. Larger 7×7 and 8×8 puzzles create longer dependencies between checkpoints and more opportunities to isolate space. Difficulty also reflects checkpoint spacing, forced-route density, connectivity deductions, and the amount of forward planning required—not size alone.
Daily Number Path
Daily Number Path gives every player the same dated challenge. The date, size, difficulty, seed, and generator version determine a stable puzzle, so refreshing the page or returning later does not replace the board. Progress is saved locally for guests and follows the site's existing account statistics flow when available.
Uniquely Solvable Path Puzzles
Every published puzzle is checked by a solver that enforces checkpoint order, orthogonal movement, full-board coverage, and single-use squares. The counter stops after finding a second route; only puzzles with exactly one solution are accepted. The completed path is kept out of the public puzzle data sent with the page.
Number Path, Numberlink, and Hidato
Number Path uses one route that must pass through ordered checkpoints and cover every square. Numberlink usually asks you to connect several matching pairs with separate paths, while Hidato typically places values in a full numerical sequence and may allow diagonal adjacency depending on the puzzle. The shared idea is spatial deduction, but the movement and completion rules are different.
Number Path Solving Strategies
- Work outward from checkpoint 1 while keeping the next checkpoint reachable.
- Watch narrow corridors and corners; they often have only one safe entrance or exit.
- Avoid creating isolated empty squares that the path can no longer reach.
- Do not divide the remaining board into separate empty areas.
- Leave the final checkpoint untouched until every other square can be covered.
- Backtrack early when a route closes a corridor instead of extending a known dead end.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Number Path?
Number Path is a grid logic puzzle where you draw one continuous route from checkpoint 1 through every later checkpoint in order. The route must cover every square exactly once.
How do you play Number Path?
Start on 1, then extend the path through squares that share an edge. Visit the numbered checkpoints in ascending order and finish on the largest number only after the whole board is covered.
Can the path move diagonally?
No. Every move must go up, down, left, or right to an orthogonally adjacent square.
Can a square be used more than once?
No. Each square belongs to the path exactly once, so the route cannot cross itself or loop back through a used square.
Does the path need to cover every square?
Yes. Reaching the last checkpoint is not enough; every square on the board must be part of the same continuous path.
Must I visit the checkpoints in numerical order?
Yes. You must reach 1, 2, 3, and the remaining checkpoints in ascending order. The game blocks moves that skip ahead.
Why can’t I enter the last checkpoint yet?
The highest checkpoint is the endpoint. You can enter it only when that move also completes full-board coverage.
Are Number Path puzzles uniquely solvable?
Yes. Published puzzles are generated with stable seeds and accepted only after the solver confirms exactly one complete route.
What size should beginners choose?
Start with a 5×5 Easy puzzle. The shorter route makes it easier to learn checkpoint order, backtracking, and full-board coverage.
Can I play Number Path on mobile?
Yes. The board supports touch dragging and tap-by-tap input on phones and tablets, as well as mouse and keyboard controls on desktop.
Is Number Path free to play?
Yes. Unlimited and Daily Number Path puzzles are free to play in the browser with no download required.
Does Number Path save my progress?
Yes. An unfinished puzzle, its path, elapsed time, and move history are saved in local storage so you can continue in the same browser.