Number Link
Join matching numbers with lines that never cross.
Draw a line from each number to its twin. Lines cannot cross or share a square. Empty squares are fine.
How to play Number Link
Goal
Connect every pair of matching numbers with paths that do not cross or touch the same square.
- 1Drag from a number to the other copy of the same number to draw a line.
- 2Lines move up, down, left and right, never diagonally, and two lines cannot share a square.
- 3Squares may stay empty. You only need to link every pair.
- 4Drawing through another line cuts it. Undo, Erase and Hint are above the grid.
On a computer
Click and drag from a number. U or Ctrl+Z undoes, H gives a hint, R erases everything.
On a phone
Drag with your finger from a number to its twin.
Play Number Link free online. Join each pair of matching numbers with a line that never crosses another, on grids from 6x6 up to 12x12. A daily puzzle too.
Number Link tips and strategy
- Begin with pairs that are close together. Their shortest route is often the right one.
- Numbers near the edge have fewer ways out, so they are good places to start.
- Draw lines along the walls when you can. Lines through the middle tend to split the grid and block other pairs.
- If one number is walled in by other lines, redraw the line that blocks it rather than squeezing through.
- You can draw from either number of a pair. Sometimes starting at the other end makes the route obvious.
- Hints draw one correct line and add 15 seconds, which can be a cheap way out of a tangle.
About Number Link
Number Link is a pen and paper logic puzzle. The grid holds pairs of matching numbers, and your job is to join each pair with a line. Lines run through the centers of squares, turn only at right angles and can never cross or share a square. Unlike many pipe games, you do not have to use every square, so empty space is allowed.
Puzzles of this kind have appeared in Japanese puzzle magazines for decades and are known as Numberlink or Arukone. Our free version generates each grid by drawing real paths first and then hiding them, so every puzzle has a known solution. Grids range from 6x6 on Easy to 12x12 on Hard, and the look is meant to feel like squared paper and good ink pens.
Since squares can stay empty, Number Link rewards a different kind of thinking than Flow Connect. You are looking for routes that leave room for the other pairs rather than routes that fill the board.
Number Link FAQ
Do I have to fill every square in Number Link?
No. You only need to connect every pair without crossing. Empty squares are fine.
What is the difference between Number Link and Flow Connect?
Flow Connect requires the pipes to fill the whole board. Number Link only asks you to join the pairs, and it uses bigger grids up to 12x12.
Can lines go diagonally?
No. Lines move only up, down, left and right from square to square.
Is my solution wrong if it differs from the hint?
No. Any set of lines that joins every pair without crossing or sharing squares counts as solved.
Is there a daily Number Link?
Yes. A new 8x8 grid appears every day, and it is the same for every player so you can compare times.
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