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Last Updated on February 23, 2025 by George Palmer
The 15 Puzzle is a sliding puzzle that consists of a 4×4 grid with 15 numbered tiles and one empty space.
The goal is to arrange the numbers in ascending order (1 to 15), with the empty space in the bottom-right corner.
Steps to Play:
- Shuffle the Tiles – The game starts with the tiles randomly placed.
- Slide Tiles – You can move tiles into the empty space by sliding them horizontally or vertically.
- Solve in Order – Rearrange the tiles systematically to get them in numerical order.
Tips to Win the 15 Puzzle Game
Here are the best tips:
1. Solve Row by Row
- Start by placing tiles 1-4 correctly in the first row.
- Then, focus on tiles 5-8 in the second row, and so on.
2. Use the “Snake” Pattern
- Instead of solving in strict left-to-right order, use a “snake” approach:
- First row: 1 → 2 → 3 → 4
- Second row: 8 ← 7 ← 6 ← 5
- Third row: 9 → 10 → 11 → 12
- Last row: 16 (empty) ← 15 ← 14 ← 13
3. Don’t Break What’s Fixed
- Once a tile is placed correctly, avoid disturbing it while solving others.
4. Master the 2×3 Trick for the Last Tiles
- Simple moves can’t always solve the last two rows.
- Learn to cycle tiles within a 2×3 area to place them correctly without messing up others.
5. Plan Moves Ahead
- Random moves will trap tiles in bad spots.
- Think a few moves ahead, like in chess, to keep tiles close to their final positions.
6. Practice!
- The more you play, the better you get at recognizing patterns and solving them faster.
Want to challenge yourself? Try solving it in the least number of moves or as fast as possible!