Sliding Puzzle: Play the 15 Puzzle Online
Play the classic sliding puzzle for free. The numbered tiles are mixed up on the board with one empty space. Slide tiles into the gap until they read 1, 2, 3 and so on in order. Pick the quick 3 × 3 board, the famous 4 × 4 15 puzzle, or the tough 5 × 5, and try to beat your best move count.
Quick answer: Click a tile next to the empty space to slide it in, or click any tile in the same row or column to slide a whole line at once. On a keyboard, the arrow keys move tiles into the gap. Arrange the numbers in order from the top left, with the gap in the bottom right corner. Tiles already in their correct spot turn green.
How to solve a sliding puzzle
- Solve the top row first. Bring 1, 2 and 3 into place, then fit the last tile of the row using the corner trick: park it below its spot, then rotate it in with the tile beside it.
- Then the second row on a 4 × 4 board, the same way. Once a row is done, never move it again.
- Finish the last two rows by columns. Solve the left columns two tiles at a time, top and bottom together.
- Rotate the final 2 × 3 corner until the last tiles fall into place.
Sliding puzzle board sizes
| Board | Tiles | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| 3 × 3 | 8 | Quick, good for beginners and kids |
| 4 × 4 | 15 | The classic 15 puzzle |
| 5 × 5 | 24 | Long and challenging |
Every shuffle here is made by sliding tiles from the solved position, so every puzzle can be solved. The 15 puzzle became a worldwide craze in the 1880s. For more logic games, try the Tower of Hanoi or peg solitaire.
FAQ
Can every 15 puzzle be solved?
Not every random arrangement can, but every puzzle on this page can, because it is shuffled with real moves.
What is a good score for the 15 puzzle?
Most people solve it in 100 to 300 moves. Fast solvers who use the row-by-row method often finish in under a minute.
More free games and tools
See all of them on the QuickOnlineTips free online tools page and the free online games page.