A path through the pages
How to play Number Worm
Guide the worm from Start to End. Every numbered tile you visit adds to your total—including Start and End. Finish on End with the total exactly equal to the target.
Move up, down, left or right. Diagonals are not allowed, and a tile cannot appear twice in your path. Drag backward one tile to undo a step, or use Undo. Reaching End stops the path, so backtrack if your total is not right.
Little twists along the way
- Rocks block your path.
- Negative numbers subtract from your total. Going over the target is allowed.
- ×2 doubles your running total the moment you enter it.
- Stars must all be collected before you finish. Their numbers count too.
- Keys and locks: visit the key before entering the lock. Backtracking past the key locks it again.
Three new puzzles every day
Easy has a 4×4 grid, Medium a 5×5 grid, and Hard a 6×6 grid. Everyone gets the same puzzle for the same date and difficulty. Glintwick’s daily puzzles and three free hints reset at midnight Eastern, including daylight-saving changes. A puzzle already open stays playable across midnight.
Solve at least one daily puzzle to keep your daily streak. Replaying a puzzle can improve your personal best; it does not count as another day.
The endless bookshelf
Levels use the original Number Worm puzzles and progression. Early levels introduce the path, rocks arrive at level 5, negatives at 13, doublers at 25, stars at 37, and keys and locks at 49. Every twelve levels opens another shelf. There are always more pages ahead.
Earn up to three stars
For levels 1–12, finish within 30 seconds for three stars or 75 seconds for two. For levels 13–36, the limits are 60 and 150 seconds. From level 37, they are 120 and 300 seconds. Finishing always earns at least one star. Using a hint caps your result at two stars. Your best star rating stays saved.
Share a little challenge
Share your daily results without revealing the solution, or send a friend the exact puzzle you played. A challenge link identifies the puzzle only; each friend’s attempt and result stay on their device. This is a casual same-puzzle challenge, not a live race or a verified leaderboard.
A few useful tips
- Look at End first and work backward in your head.
- A negative tile can rescue a total that seems too large.
- A doubler’s position matters as much as its value.
- If a path cannot work, try a different first turn.
Keyboard and comfort
Tab to Start and press Enter or Space. Use arrow keys to extend the path, or Tab to a neighboring tile and select it. Sound is off by default. Settings include light/dark, animation speed, and flat art. Reduced-motion preferences are respected automatically. Timers pause when the tab is hidden or a dialog is open.