15 Puzzle

Overview: 15 Puzzle

The 15 Puzzle is a classic sliding tile puzzle made up of 15 numbered square tiles arranged in a 4x4 grid, with one space. The goal is simple but tricky: rearrange the tiles in numerical order (1–15) using only sliding moves into the space. It’s a timeless brain teaser that tests logic, planning, and spatial awareness.

Understanding the Game Mechanics

• The puzzle consists of 16 slots, 15 of which are filled with numbered tiles.

• You can slide a tile into the adjacent space — no diagonal moves.

• Tiles can move left, right, up, or down, depending on the position of the gap.

• There is only one empty slot to work with at any given time.

Rules of the Game

• Only one tile can move at a time into the space.

• You can’t move tiles diagonally.

• The objective is to arrange the tiles in ascending order from 1 to 15, left to right, top to bottom.

• The puzzle is only solvable if it meets certain conditions when initially scrambled (most digital versions ensure this).