Sliding Puzzle (15 Puzzle)
Slide numbered tiles into order on a 3x3 or 4x4 board, counting moves and time.
Moves
0
Time
0
Tap a tile next to the blank to slide it.
How to use Sliding Puzzle
- 01Pick a board size, then press shuffle to scramble the tiles.
- 02Click or tap any tile next to the empty square to slide it across.
- 03Arrange the tiles in numerical order with the empty square last to finish.
About Sliding Puzzle
The 15 puzzle is the original sliding tile puzzle: fifteen numbered tiles in a four-by-four frame with one gap. Only half of all possible arrangements can be solved, which is why this version scrambles the board by making random legal moves — every shuffle you get is guaranteed solvable.
The standard method is to solve it row by row, then column by column, leaving a two-by-two square at the end. Finish the top row and the left column first and never disturb them again; the puzzle shrinks with every section you lock in.
Frequently asked questions
- Is every shuffle solvable?
- Yes. The board is scrambled with random legal moves from a solved state, so a solution always exists.
- What is a good score?
- A four-by-four board can usually be solved in about 80 moves with practice; the optimal worst case is 80.
- Can I play the easier version?
- Yes, switch to the 3x3 eight puzzle for a much quicker game.
Related games and tools
2048
Slide numbered tiles around a 4x4 grid and merge matching pairs until you reach 2048.
Block Drop
Rotate and stack falling blocks to clear full lines before the stack reaches the top.
Lights Out
Toggle cells and their neighbors until the whole five-by-five grid is dark.
Sudoku
Fill the grid so every row, column and box contains the digits one to nine exactly once.