How to Play Zip
Overview
Zip is a path-drawing puzzle where you draw a single continuous path that visits numbered checkpoints in sequence. The path must fill every cell in the grid, starting at 1 and ending at the highest number. It's a test of spatial reasoning and planning!
Video Tutorial
Rules
- 1Start your path at the cell marked with number 1.
- 2Visit all numbered checkpoints in ascending order (1, 2, 3, etc.).
- 3Fill every cell in the grid - no empty cells allowed.
- 4End your path at the highest numbered checkpoint.
- 5Move only horizontally or vertically (no diagonals).
- 6The path cannot cross itself - each cell is visited exactly once.
Controls
Click & DragDraw path from checkpoint 1
ReleaseComplete the path segment
Double-ClickClear the entire path
BacktrackDrag back over path to undo
Ctrl+ZUndo last move
Solving Strategies
Plan Your Route
Look at where all the numbered checkpoints are located and plan a rough route before starting.
Use Corners Wisely
Corners and edges can only be entered and exited in limited ways - plan around them.
Don't Trap Yourself
Avoid creating isolated empty cells that you can't reach later in your path.
Work Backwards Sometimes
If stuck, try planning from the end checkpoint backwards to meet your current path.
Fill Dense Areas First
Areas with many checkpoints need careful navigation - tackle them early when you have more flexibility.
Pro Tips
- •The path always has a solution - if stuck, try a completely different approach.
- •Watch for "chokepoints" where the path must pass through to reach later checkpoints.
- •Use the undo button freely - experimentation is part of the fun!
- •On larger grids, mentally divide the grid into sections between checkpoints.