Numbered sliding puzzle
The classic 3 × 3, with a number on every tile so beginners can see where each one belongs. It is how the type arrives.
When to use it
The first time a class meets a sliding puzzle, on the smartboard with everyone calling out moves. A warm-up for younger pupils who need to see where each tile goes before they can plan how to get it there. Early finishers who want something that isn't another worksheet.
What makes it this
Built on the Sliding puzzle generator with these changed. Everything else is the default.
- Number the tiles
Numbers make it far easier to see where a tile belongs.
In the builder: How it plays › Solving aids
- How scrambled it starts
More shuffling means more moves to get it back.
In the builder: How it plays › Pieces & board
Preview
View only — copy it to play.Sliding puzzle: the numbered 8-puzzle
Only a tile next to the empty square can move, so click one of those — or nudge the whole row with the arrow keys.
Why the example is built this way
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Detail in every tile, not just the middle.
On a plain background the corner tiles look the same, so only the number tells them apart. Pick a picture with colour and shapes reaching every edge, and the numbers become a help, not the only route.
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Three by three, scrambled on Easy.
Nine tiles and the gentlest shuffle are where a beginner learns that only a tile next to the gap can move. Both are the defaults, so a new sliding puzzle already starts here.
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The numbers go at the finish.
With Hide piece edges when finished on, the clean picture closes over the seams and the numbers when the last tile slides home. Beginners get every aid on the way and the whole picture as the reward.
Build it yourself
- 1 Open the Sliding puzzle builder and fill in the Image & tiles tab.
- 2 Change the settings under What makes it this. Each one says where it is in the builder.
- 3 Share the link with your players, or embed the activity in your own site.
Or skip the building: copy this example and swap in your own content.