Sliding Puzzle – Numbers & Picture Tiles
Slide the tiles back into order in the classic sliding puzzle — 3×3, 4×4 or 5×5, with numbers or an original Tamil Nadu sunrise picture.
How to play
- 1
Choose a size (3×3, 4×4 or 5×5) and Numbers or Picture mode.
- 2
Tap a tile next to the empty space to slide it. Tapping a tile in the same row or column slides the whole line.
- 3
On a computer you can also use the arrow keys; on a phone you can swipe.
- 4
Put the tiles back in order (1, 2, 3 … with the gap at the bottom right) or rebuild the picture to win.
Tips
- Solve the top row first, then the left column — the puzzle becomes a smaller one each time.
- Place the last two tiles of a row together: bring them into position as a pair.
- In Picture mode, tap Peek to see the full picture for a moment.
- Start with 3×3 until the method feels natural, then try 4×4.
About this game
The sliding puzzle is one of the oldest mechanical puzzles: tiles sit in a square frame with one empty space, and you slide them one by one to put them back in order. It became a worldwide craze in the 1880s as the “15 puzzle”, and it is still a great way to practise planning and patience.
This free version offers three sizes — 3×3 for beginners, 4×4 for the classic challenge and 5×5 for experts — and two modes: numbered tiles, or an original picture of a Tamil Nadu sunrise drawn in your browser. Every shuffle is guaranteed to be solvable, and the game counts your moves and time.
Free to play · no sign-up · no ads · your best scores are saved only on this device.
Questions
Is every shuffle solvable?
Yes. Only half of all random arrangements of a sliding puzzle can be solved, so the game checks the mathematical “parity” of each shuffle and only gives you solvable ones.
What is the picture?
It is an original drawing made in your browser: a sunrise over a Tamil Nadu temple tower, palm trees and the sea, with a kolam border. No outside images are used.
Are my best moves saved?
Yes, the fewest moves for each size and mode are saved only in this browser on this device.
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