What is Slitherlink?
Slitherlink is a loop-drawing logic puzzle. You connect the dots of a grid to form one continuous loop, guided by the numbers inside the squares. Each number counts how many of that square’s four sides the loop uses.
It starts simple and quickly becomes one of the most absorbing puzzles in the Nikoli family. Play Slitherlink online free here.
How to play Slitherlink
- Connect the dots with lines to make one single closed loop.
- The loop may not cross itself or branch.
- A number in a square shows how many of its four sides are part of the loop.
- Squares without a number can have any number of sides used.
Slitherlink tips
Start with 0s and 3s
A 0 means none of its sides are used, so cross them all out. A 3 next to a 0 fixes three lines almost at once.
Two 3s side by side
When two 3s touch, the edge between them and both outer edges are always part of the loop.
Every dot has 0 or 2 lines
A loop passes through a dot or skips it. If a dot already has two lines, cross out its others; if it has one, the loop must continue.
Frequently asked questions
What is loop the loop?
Loop the loop is another English name for Slitherlink. Both names describe the same one-loop puzzle.
Can there be more than one loop?
No. The solution is always one single closed loop.
Who created Slitherlink?
Slitherlink was first published by Nikoli in Japan in 1989.
