How to solve paint path puzzles
In a paint path puzzle you move one tile at a time, paint every tile on the board and can’t step on a tile twice. It looks like trial and error, but a few rules solve most boards before you make a move.
1. Find the dead ends first
A tile with only one free neighbor is a dead end. Your path can enter it but never leave, so it can only be the very end of your route. When the level has a fixed exit, any other dead end means a move went wrong: undo it right away. Check for new dead ends after every move, not just at the start.
2. Work backwards from the exit
When the level has a fixed exit, the last few moves are often forced. Trace back from the exit to see which tiles must come right before it, then plan your route to arrive that way.
3. Don’t split the board
Before each move, check that the tiles you haven’t painted are still connected. If your trail cuts the board into two separate parts, you can only finish one of them. Edges and narrow corridors are where this usually happens.
4. Clear corners and edges early
Tiles on the edge have fewer neighbors, so they get stranded more easily. Sweep along edges and into corners while you still have room, and save the open middle of the board for later.
5. Treat special tiles as fixed points
Teleporters, arrows and color tiles limit where you can go next, so they work like extra dead ends. Plan your route through them first, then fill in the plain tiles around them.
Practice with Slime Splash
Slime Splash is a hex paint puzzle built on these rules: slide the slime, paint every tile and finish on the exit. Each solved board becomes a picture for your album. There are 100 levels across two worlds, a new daily puzzle, and undo and hints for when you’re stuck. It plays offline.
Questions
Are hex boards harder than square boards?
Not really. Each hex tile has up to six neighbors instead of four, so you have more choices, but also more ways to cut the board in two. The same rules apply.
What if I’m completely stuck?
Undo back to the last move that still left every unpainted tile connected, and try again from there. In Slime Splash, hints show you the next move.
Is Slime Splash free?
Yes. It’s free to play with ads. It’s in closed testing on Google Play right now, and you can join the beta from its page.