Number Loop

What is Number Loop?

Number Loop is a logic puzzle of dots and numbers. The board is a lattice of dots, and some of the cells between them hold a number from 0 to 3. Draw a single closed loop along the dotted lines, never crossing itself and never branching, so that every number has exactly that many of its four sides on the loop. A cell without a number can have any count.

Every board has exactly one answer, and it can always be reached by reasoning, never by guessing. Boards come in three sizes, 5 by 5, 7 by 7 and 9 by 9, and a new board, the same for everyone, arrives every day.

How to play

Tap the gap between two dots to draw a line, tap again to cross it out, and once more to clear it.

• Drawing. Drag your finger from dot to dot to draw several lines in one go. A drag that starts on a line rubs lines out instead.
• Crosses. A cross is only your note that the loop does not pass there; it never counts against you.
• Numbers. Each number counts the sides of its cell that the loop runs along. It dims when it has its lines and turns red when it has too many. A dot with more than two lines turns red too.
• Undo. Undo takes back your last change, a whole drag at a time.
• Score. Your score is the time to close the loop, plus 30 seconds for every hint. Every board size has its own leaderboard.

Strategy tips

1. Clear the zeros. A 0 never touches the loop, so all four of its sides get a cross.
2. Pair up the 3s. Two 3s side by side share the line between them and both their outer sides. Two 3s touching at a corner take the two sides at their far corners.
3. Use the corners of the board. A 1 in a corner leaves both corner edges empty, and a 3 in a corner takes both of them.
4. Two lines or none. Every dot has either two lines or none: a line that reaches a dot with one way out must carry on, and a dot with two lines is finished. Never join two ends into a small loop while other numbers still need lines.
5. Inside and outside. The loop splits the board in two, and everything beyond the rim is outside. Two cells with a cross between them are on the same side, two cells with a line between them on opposite sides. Following that chain settles edges far apart.

FAQ

Is Number Loop free to play?

Yes. Like every game on Play, it runs free in your browser, with no download and no account needed.

Do I have to mark the crosses?

No. Crosses are only notes for yourself; the board is solved the moment your lines make the loop.

What does a hint do?

It fixes a wrong mark first if there is one, otherwise it draws the next line that follows by logic from the marks on the board. Each hint adds 30 seconds to your time.

What is the daily loop?

Every day everyone plays the same medium 7 by 7 board, so times compare directly on the leaderboard.

How is my score counted?

Your score is the time from the first look at the board to the line that closes the loop, plus 30 seconds for every hint. Lower is better.