Zip
Draw a single path that visits every cell exactly once.
The rules
How to play
- 01
Begin at 1
Start your path at the cell marked with the number 1 — that checkpoint is always the head of the route.
- 02
Checkpoints in order
Thread the line through every numbered checkpoint in ascending order: 1, then 2, then 3, and on to the highest number.
- 03
Fill every cell
A finished path covers the whole grid. No cell may be left empty when you arrive at the final checkpoint.
- 04
Straight moves only
Move one step at a time, horizontally or vertically between neighbouring cells. Diagonal moves are never allowed.
- 05
One continuous line
The path can never cross or touch itself — each cell is visited exactly once, ending on the highest checkpoint.
Play smarter
Six ways to plan the path
Plan your route
Look at where all the numbered checkpoints sit and sketch a rough route in your head before you start drawing.
Use corners wisely
Corners and edges can only be entered and exited in limited ways — plan your path around those constraints.
Don't trap yourself
Avoid leaving isolated empty cells that you won't be able to reach again later in the path.
Work backwards
When you get stuck, try planning from the final checkpoint backwards to meet your current path in the middle.
Fill dense areas first
Regions crowded with checkpoints need careful navigation — tackle them early while you still have flexibility.
Spot the chokepoints
Watch for narrow passages the path must pass through to reach later checkpoints, and route through them deliberately.
Watch & learn
Two minutes to mastery
From the Intel desk
Reading for the curious
Zip Puzzle: A Complete Beginner's Guide to Number Paths
Learn how to solve Zip puzzles from scratch. Master the rules of path-drawing through numbered checkpoints, follow our visual step-by-step tutorial, and discover essential strategies for filling every cell without trapping yourself.
Zip Puzzle Strategies: Mastering Sequential Number Paths
Level up your Zip puzzle skills with intermediate strategies including parity analysis, checkpoint distance calculations, region isolation techniques, and speed-solving methods for larger grids.
Keep going
Where to next
Fresh every day
The Daily Zip
One shared grid for everyone, every day. Build a streak and compare your solving time.
Go deeper
Rules & strategy guide
From route planning to chokepoint spotting — the complete written guide with worked strategies.
Beyond the grid
Explore all puzzles
Sudoku, Kakuro, Slitherlink and fifteen more logic games await.