Hidato

About this game

A logic puzzle where you fill a grid with consecutive numbers from 1 to N such that each number is in a cell adjacent (orthogonal or diagonal) to the next consecutive number. Invented by Dr. Gyora Benedek.

How to play

What is Hidato?

Hidato (a.k.a. Number Snake) is a logic puzzle invented by Israeli mathematician Dr. Gyora M. Benedek. The goal is to fill the grid with consecutive numbers from 1 to N such that each number is adjacent to the next — horizontally, vertically, or diagonally — forming a single connected chain.

How do you play Hidato?

Tap any empty cell to open the number picker, then choose the number that fits the chain. Adjacent cells include the 8 neighbors (orthogonal and diagonal). The first (1) and last (N) numbers are always pre-filled. Build a continuous path from 1 to N.

Is Hidato difficult?

Hidato ranges from easy (5x5) to expert (10x10). Start small, look at where the chain is broken, and use diagonal moves to escape dead ends. A helpful trick: count the gap between the highest filled number and N to estimate the remaining length.

Are all puzzles solvable?

Yes. All 30 puzzles in this game are generated by constructing a guaranteed Hamiltonian-like snake path and then erasing random cells, with the start and end always preserved. The base path is always unique, so each puzzle has exactly one solution path.