Zip Puzzle: January 5, 2026

Solving Tip: Handle Corners First

Corner cells on the Zip grid can only be entered and exited from two directions. That constraint makes them one of the most useful things to plan around. If a corner has no wall blocking either of its two neighbors, you know the path must enter from one and exit from the other — there is no alternative. Start each puzzle by scanning the four corners and any cells along the edges that have walls nearby. These forced connections reveal sections of the path for free and shrink the number of decisions you actually have to make. On today's 6×6 grid, check how the walls interact with the border cells. That is usually enough to anchor the first few moves of your solution.

Archive puzzle #5 is a Monday 6x6 Zip challenge. Use this replay to practice short forced moves near numbered cells, watch for using the only entrance to a wall-bounded pocket too early, and aim for a one-undo practice run.