Zip Puzzle: January 18, 2026

Solving Tip: Work Backward

When you get stuck on a Zip puzzle, try thinking from the end. Look at the highest numbered cell and figure out which cells your path needs to cover between the last two waypoints. On a 6×6 grid, the gap between the final waypoints is often the tightest part of the puzzle because there are fewer remaining empty cells. By planning that final stretch first, you give yourself more flexibility for the earlier, easier segments. This reverse approach is especially useful when walls split the grid into sections — you can figure out which section the path needs to end in and work backward from there. Every player solves the same daily puzzle, so compare strategies with friends to see who found the cleaner route.

Archive puzzle #18 is a Sunday 6x6 Zip challenge. Use this replay to practice wall-separated sections, watch for using the only entrance to a wall-bounded pocket too early, and aim for a slow scan before drawing.