Hidoku and Numbrix Puzzle Books

Hidoku and Numbrix are number-path puzzles. Some numbers are already in the grid, and you fill in the rest so that every number from 1 to the last links to the next in one unbroken chain. The difference is in how the path can move. In Numbrix, each number must sit directly above, below, left or right of the next. In Hidoku, also called Hidato or Number Snake, the path can also move diagonally.

There's no arithmetic, only logic and a good eye for the route. You look for gaps between the given numbers, count how many steps the path needs to bridge them, and work out which squares can possibly fit. When two given numbers are far apart, the path has to wind; when they're close, it has very little room. As the puzzles get harder, you'll need to plan the route further ahead.

We publish three series. 270 BIG Numbrix uses extra-large grids, so the chains are longer and there's more to think about, with 270 puzzles per book in three difficulty ranges. 288 Hidoku Fun Shapes swaps plain squares for playful shapes, with 288 puzzles per book in three levels. 180 Large Print Hidoku prints one large puzzle on every page, so you can see the whole path at once, in Novice, Adept and Master editions.

These puzzles make a relaxing change from Sudoku-style grids: the goal is always clear, and the satisfaction of a completed path is hard to beat. They suit solvers of any age who enjoy steady, absorbing logic without the need for sums. A pencil and an eraser help: sketching a route lightly, then committing once the count works, is part of the fun.

Each series page below explains what's inside, the levels on offer and who the books suit, so you can compare them and choose. If you enjoy following paths, you may also like Hashi, where you join islands with bridges.