How to Play Slitherlink: Rules, Strategy & Free Puzzles
Slitherlink is a loop logic puzzle played on a grid of dots. You connect dots with horizontal and vertical lines to form one single closed loop. Each numbered cell tells you exactly how many of its four sides are part of the loop, and the loop never crosses itself or branches.
- Skill: Loop deduction & spatial logic
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- Difficulty: Advanced
How to play Slitherlink
- Connect the dots. Draw horizontal or vertical segments between adjacent dots to build the loop.
- Obey the numbers. A number in a cell is the exact count of that cell edges that belong to the loop. A 0 means none of its four sides are used.
- Form one closed loop. All segments must join into a single continuous loop with no loose ends.
- Never cross or branch. The loop cannot cross itself, and no dot may have more than two segments meeting at it.
Slitherlink strategy & tips
- A 0 cell means every one of its four edges is blocked — mark them as crosses to constrain neighbours.
- A 3 next to a 0, or adjacent 3s, force a known pattern of edges you can fill instantly.
- Track the loop ends: a path can only close back on itself, never dead-end.
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Slitherlink FAQ
What do the numbers mean in Slitherlink?
Each number is the exact number of the four sides of that cell that the loop passes along. A 2 means precisely two of its edges are part of the loop.
Can the loop cross itself?
No. Slitherlink always forms one single closed loop that never crosses, touches or branches.
Related puzzles
Reference: Slitherlink on Wikipedia