Sliding Puzzle
Slide the tiles back into order.
Click a tile next to the gap, or use arrow keys. Green tiles are in place.
How to play Sliding Puzzle
Goal: Put the tiles back in order from 1 to the last number.
- 1Only tiles next to the empty space can move.
- 2Moving a tile slides it into the gap.
- 3Tiles turn green when they are in the right spot.
- 4Solve it in as few moves as you can.
On a computer
Click a tile or use arrow keys
On a phone
Tap a tile next to the gap
Play the classic 15 puzzle free online. Slide numbered tiles into order on 3×3, 4×4 or 5×5 boards.
About Sliding Puzzle
The sliding puzzle is a grid of numbered tiles with one empty space. You slide tiles into the gap, one at a time, until the numbers are back in order from 1 to the last tile. The four by four version is often called the 15 puzzle.
The 15 puzzle caused a craze in the late 1800s and is still used today to teach problem solving and search algorithms. Our free version offers three by three, four by four and five by five boards. Every shuffle is made from legal moves, so every puzzle can be solved.
It is a relaxing puzzle that rewards patience and method rather than speed. Tiles turn green when they are in the right spot, so you can see your progress. Play with a mouse, arrow keys or taps on your phone.
Sliding puzzles are also a classic teaching example in computer science, because the number of possible board states grows enormous as the grid gets bigger. That is why a five by five board feels so much harder than a three by three board, even though the rules are the same. Start small, learn the row by row method, and you will find the bigger boards are just longer versions of the same steps.
Sliding Puzzle tips and strategy
- Solve the top row first, then the second row, and leave the last two rows for the end.
- Place the last two tiles of a row together: line them up next to each other below their spots, then rotate them in.
- Once a row is done, avoid touching it again.
- Finish the bottom area by solving columns from left to right, two rows at a time.
- Move the empty space around a tile, not the tile itself. Thinking about the gap makes long moves easier.
- Start with the three by three board to learn the method before trying five by five.
Sliding Puzzle FAQ
Is every sliding puzzle solvable?
Not every random arrangement is, but ours are. We shuffle by making real moves from the solved board, so a solution always exists.
What is the 15 puzzle?
It is the four by four sliding puzzle with tiles 1 to 15 and one empty space, first popular in the late 19th century.
What is the fastest way to solve a sliding puzzle?
Solve it row by row from the top, then finish the last two rows column by column. Speed comes with practice of these patterns.
Can I use the keyboard?
Yes. Arrow keys slide the tile next to the gap in that direction.
Is the sliding puzzle free?
Yes. It is free to play in your browser on any device, and your best move count is saved for each board size.