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Hidato
Hidato, also marketed as Hidoku or Number Snake, was invented by Israeli mathematician Gyora Benedek. You are given a grid with some numbers filled in and must complete a single unbroken chain from the lowest number to the highest. Every cell in the grid becomes part of one continuous path.
Hidato Rules
The grid (often square, but sometimes other shapes) has the lowest and highest numbers placed, plus a scattering of other given numbers as anchors. Every cell must end up holding a number.
You fill the blanks so the full sequence of consecutive integers forms one continuous chain. Consecutive numbers must be adjacent — touching horizontally, vertically, or diagonally — so each number sits next to the one before and after it.
The chain runs from 1 up to the final number with no breaks and no number used twice. A correct Hidato fills the entire grid as a single winding path, and the solution is unique.
Hidato Strategy & Tips
Bridge between known numbers
When two givens are close in value, count the steps and cells between them. If 14 and 18 are four cells apart along an open route, the path between them is forced.
Remember diagonal adjacency
Unlike many path puzzles, Hidato lets consecutive numbers touch diagonally. Always check the eight surrounding cells, not just four, when looking for the next link.
Work from both ends of a gap
Fill forward from the smaller anchor and backward from the larger one. Where the two advancing fronts must meet, the connecting cells reveal themselves.
Watch corners and dead ends
A cell with few neighbors can only be reached one way. If a corner must be part of the chain, the numbers entering and leaving it are tightly constrained.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the goal of Hidato?
To fill the grid so that all numbers from 1 to the highest given form a single continuous chain, with each consecutive pair of numbers touching.
Can numbers connect diagonally in Hidato?
Yes. Consecutive numbers may be adjacent horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, giving each cell up to eight possible neighbors.
Is Hidato the same as Hidoku?
Yes, they are the same puzzle. "Hidato" is the original trademarked name; "Hidoku" and "Number Snake" are alternate names used by different publishers.
Does every cell get a number in Hidato?
Yes. A standard Hidato uses every cell in the grid, so the completed path covers the entire board with no empty squares.