Where to Begin a 5x5 Hidoku
Look for two printed numbers that are close in value, such as 7 and 9. The missing 8 must touch both of them, and on a small grid that often leaves a single cell. Filling these short gaps first gives the path its shape.
How the Levels Differ
On an Easy grid, 13 of the 25 cells come filled in, and most gaps are one or two numbers long. Medium grids leave longer gaps. Hard grids remove every number they can while keeping a single solution, so some stretches of the path must be worked out over several steps.
A First Path Puzzle for Children
Counting from 1 to 25 is familiar to most young solvers, and the rule of touching cells is easy to explain with a finger on the page. The small grid keeps the search short and the success frequent.