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How to play

Introduction

Each Hidato puzzle starts with a grid partially filled with numbers, two of which are circled:

137

The goal is to finish filling the grid by creating a path of adjacent consecutive numbers that lead from one circled number to the other:

5461372

Hidato tips

•Each puzzle has only one solution.
•Hidato puzzles can be solved with pure logic. No guesswork is needed.
•It’s not necessary to start with the first number – sometimes it’s better to start somewhere else.
•Working backwards (counting down) can reveal key clues to solving the puzzle.

A sample Hidato

The circled numbers in the example below indicate that the lowest number on the grid is 1 and the highest is 19. Start by trying to make a chain from 1 to 5:

1119101751819

There are four possible places to put the 2, but it isn’t yet clear which is correct. So look for other connections that will give you clues:

22112191017251819

You’ll see that there’s not enough information to solve chains 1 to 5 or 5 to 9. However, there’s only one way to connect 11 to 17. Working backwards shows you the only possible position for the 16, because the 17 has only one empty box touching it:

111619101751819

Placing the 16 on the grid reveals the location for the 15 and the 14:

1415111619101751819

Now the 11 has only one empty box touching it, which means that the 12 must be there:

141512111619101751819

The 13 must be next to both 12 and 14. There’s only one such place, so that’s where you must put the 13:

13141512111619101751819

There are still three possible places to put the 2, but if you don’t put it above the 1, this space will never be filled:

131415212111619101751819

You can now place the final numbers to complete the puzzle:

13141521211163191017458186719

These simple strategies can solve all levels of Hidato puzzles!

Common questions

What is Hidato?
Hidato is a logic puzzle played on a grid. You fill every empty cell so the numbers form one unbroken chain from 1 to the highest number, where each number touches the next.
What are the rules of Hidato?
Every cell must hold a number, each number from 1 to the maximum is used exactly once, and consecutive numbers must always be in touching cells. On a honeycomb board each cell touches six neighbours.
Is there always only one solution?
Yes. A well-formed Hidato has exactly one arrangement that satisfies the rules, so it can always be solved by logic alone with no guessing.
Is Hidato the same as Hidoku or Numbrix?
Hidato and Hidoku are the same puzzle. Numbrix is a close relative that allows only horizontal and vertical steps, while Hidato also allows diagonal or hex-neighbour steps depending on the grid.

Now try one

Start with an easy puzzle, browse the whole library, or grab a printable PDF to solve on paper.