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Zip Puzzle

Connect matching points and plan a route that does not cross itself.

Zip rules, tactics & how to play

Learn the rules of Zip and how to plan your path, then play the board above.

Rules & how to play

The goal

Draw one continuous line that passes through the numbered cells in order and fills every square on the grid.

The rules

  • Start at 1 and connect the numbers in sequence.
  • The path moves between adjacent cells and cannot cross itself.
  • When you finish, every cell on the board must be covered exactly once.
Solving technique

Plan the whole route

Zip is about filling every square, so trace a path in your head that reaches the last number without stranding empty cells.

Watch the corners and dead ends

Cells with only one way in and out must be handled early or they get cut off from the path.

Work backward from the end

Sometimes it is easier to see how the path must approach the final number and fill in from there.

Frequently asked questions

What are the rules of Zip?

Draw a single continuous line that goes through the numbered cells in order from 1 upward and covers every square on the grid exactly once, without the line crossing itself.

How do you solve a Zip puzzle?

Plan a route that reaches the final number while still covering every square, deal with corners and dead-end cells early so they are not stranded, and if the start is unclear, work backward from how the path must reach the last number.

What makes Zip tricky?

The challenge is filling the entire grid with one unbroken path in the right number order. It is easy to reach the numbers but leave squares uncovered, so the puzzle is really about planning the whole route at once.