Sliding Puzzle
Slide the numbered tiles into order using the single empty space — every deal is mathematically solvable.
Click any tile in the same row or column as the gap to slide · Arrow keys / WASD slide one tile · Z to undo
How to Play Sliding Puzzle in 3 Steps
Pick a grid size
3×3 (tiles 1–8) is a quick warm-up, 4×4 is the classic 15-puzzle, and 5×5 is the 24-tile endurance board.
Slide single tiles or whole rows
Press an arrow key (or W A S D) to slide one tile into the empty space, or click any tile in the same row or column as the gap to slide the whole run in a single move.
Solve top-to-bottom, left-to-right
Lock in row 1 first, then row 2, and finish the last two rows together. Tiles sitting in their final home square get a subtle brand tint.
Controls & rules
| Action | Keyboard | Mouse / Touch |
|---|---|---|
| Slide one tile into gap | ← → ↑ ↓ or W A S D | Tap a tile next to the gap |
| Slide multiple tiles at once | — | Click / tap any tile in the gap’s row or column |
| Undo last slide | Z | Tap Undo |
| New scramble | Space (when solved) | Tap Scramble |
Sliding Puzzle — Frequently Asked Questions
Is every scramble actually solvable?
Yes. Half of all random tile permutations are mathematically impossible to solve (famous since Sam Loyd’s 1891 puzzle). This generator checks inversion parity plus the blank’s row and swaps two tiles if needed, so 100% of deals are solvable.
Do multi-tile clicks count as one move or many?
Each individual tile shift counts as 1 move, so keyboard and mouse play are scored identically for personal bests.
What is a good move count for the 4×4 15-puzzle?
Any random 15-puzzle can be solved in at most 80 single-tile moves (God’s number), and a typical human layer-by-layer solve takes 90–160 moves.
How do I solve the last two tiles of a row?
Move the second-to-last tile into the corner spot first, park the last tile right below it, then rotate the 2×2 block to drop both into place together.
Is anything uploaded or tracked while I play?
No. The game runs entirely in your browser tab. Your best score or win tally is saved only in your browser’s localStorage and cleared when you press Reset.