15 Puzzle
Slide the tiles back into order.
About 15 Puzzle
The 15 puzzle is a classic sliding puzzle: numbered tiles in a frame with one empty space. Slide tiles into the gap until they are in order from left to right and top to bottom. Every shuffle here is guaranteed to be solvable.
How to play
Click a tile in the same row or column as the empty space to slide it. Arrange the numbers in order from left to right, top to bottom, with the empty space last.
Tips and strategies
- Solve the top row first, then the left column, and repeat on the smaller puzzle that remains.
- Place the last two tiles of a row together: park them one row lower, then rotate them into place.
- Plan a few moves ahead — fewer moves usually means a faster time.
15 Puzzle strategy guide
Solve row by row. Put the top row in place first, then the next, and leave finished rows alone; the last two rows are solved together, column by column from the left.
Insert the last two tiles of a row as a pair: park the final tile where the second-to-last belongs, bring that one just below it, then rotate both into place.
Think of moving the blank, not the tiles. A small loop of the empty space around a 2×2 block cycles three tiles without disturbing anything else.
Frequently asked questions
Which sizes can I play?
3×3 (the 8-puzzle), 4×4 (the classic 15 puzzle) and 5×5. The daily challenge is 4×4.
Is every shuffle solvable?
Yes. Half of all random arrangements can never be solved, so each shuffle is checked and only solvable ones are dealt.
Can I move several tiles at once?
Yes. Click any tile in the same row or column as the empty space and every tile in between slides together. The arrow keys and the on-screen pad move one tile at a time.
Is 15 Puzzle free to play?
Yes. Every game on Puzzimo is completely free and runs in your browser on desktop, tablet and phone — no download or installation.
Do I need an account?
No. You can play instantly as a guest and still appear on the leaderboards. Sign in with Google, Discord or LINE to keep your scores on every device.
How does the daily 15 Puzzle challenge work?
Every day at 00:00 UTC everyone gets the same new puzzle. Only your first finish of the day counts on the leaderboard.
How are leaderboard results verified?
Our servers replay every move of your game and measure the time themselves, so leaderboard results can't be faked.