Zip Path is a free logic puzzle where you draw a single path through numbered dots in order and cover every square of the grid. It runs in your browser with no download or sign up, works on phones and computers, and keeps working offline once the page has loaded. Each board is a fresh puzzle, from five by five up to seven by seven.
Inspired by: Number path puzzles such as the Zip game on LinkedIn.
How to play Zip Path
- Start your path on the dot marked 1.
- Drag to the next square, one step at a time. You can go up, down, left or right, but not diagonally.
- Pass through the numbers in order, 1, 2, 3 and so on, until you reach the highest number.
- Your path must fill every square of the grid exactly once and cannot cross itself.
- If you get stuck, drag back along your path, or press Undo, and try another way.
Controls
- Keyboard: Arrow keys or WASD move the head of the path. Press X to take one step back. The buttons under the grid give Undo, Clear and Hint.
- Mouse: Press on dot 1 and drag through the squares. Drag back over your own path to cut it shorter.
- Touch screen: Slide your finger from dot 1 across the squares. Use the buttons under the grid to undo, clear or ask for a hint.
Tips to score higher
- Look at the corners first. A corner square has only two neighbours, so your path has to pass through it in a fixed way.
- Work backwards from the last number when you can. The end of the path is often easier to see than the start.
- Avoid leaving a single empty square cut off from the rest. You cannot come back to it later.
- Hints show the next few squares of a working path, but they lower your score for that board.
The story behind Zip Path
Puzzles where you draw one unbroken line that visits every square have a long history in puzzle magazines, and mathematicians study the same idea under the name Hamiltonian paths. Adding numbers that must be visited in order turns it into a friendly daily brain teaser. The format got a new wave of fans when short path puzzles appeared inside popular apps and professional networks in the 2020s. They suit a coffee break, because a board takes only a minute or two. Zip Path creates fresh boards for you, so there is always another one to solve.
Questions players ask
Is Zip Path free?
Yes. It is free to play, with no sign up, no download and no purchases.
Do I need to fill every square?
Yes. A board is solved only when the path touches every square once and ends on the highest number.
Can the path go diagonally?
No. You can only move up, down, left or right, one square at a time.
Does every puzzle have a solution?
Yes. Every board is made from a real path, so a solution always exists. Use Hint if you are stuck.
Can I play offline?
Yes. After the page has loaded once, you can keep solving boards without internet.