Glide is a free daily ice-sliding puzzle. Your ball slides in a straight line until something stops it, and you're looking for the hole. Every day is three boards, and the goal is to get down all three in as few moves as par.
How do you play Glide?
- Swipe in any direction on the board. On a computer, use the arrow keys or W, A, S and D.
- The ball slides until a rock or the edge of the board stops it. You can't stop halfway.
- The hole stops you too. Slide into it and you drop onto the next board.
- Each day is three boards in a row: 5 by 5, then 7 by 7, then 9 by 9. Drop through the third hole to finish.
- Watch the two counters at the top. Moves is how many you've used. Par is the fewest possible across all three boards.
There is no way to lose and no timer. The only score is your move count.
How do the three boards work?
They come in a fixed order, and each is bigger than the last. A banner shows "Floor 1", "Floor 2" and "Floor 3" as you land on each one.
The game builds each board around a long shortest route. It aims for about 6 to 9 moves on the 5 by 5. The 7 by 7 aims for 9 to 12, and the 9 by 9 for 12 to 15. The exact par shifts a little from day to day. There's no weekday pattern.
Your moves add up across all three, and so does par. A wasted move on the first board still counts at the end.
What are dead ends and decoy stops?
These are what make Glide a puzzle rather than a walk.
A dead end is a stop you can reach but can never get from to the hole. Picture a corner where every slide out only leads to other stops that can't reach the hole either. Boards are built to include some of these. Once you're in one, you'll need Undo or Reset to get out.
A decoy stop sits close to the hole but is really far from it in moves. It looks like progress. From there, though, the hole might be three or more slides away, or out of reach entirely. The 7 by 7 and 9 by 9 boards are built to have them. The game also steers away from boards where heading straight for the hole works.
That means the best route often moves away from the hole first. Trust the route, not the distance.
Undo and Reset
Undo puts the ball back where it was before your last slide. It costs a move, so you can't scout for free.
Reset puts the ball back at the start of the board you're on. It keeps every move you've spent. It doesn't take you back to an earlier board.
There are no hints. The spots you've stopped on are marked on the current board, so you can see where you've been.
Tips for matching par
- Work backwards from the hole. Ask which stops slide straight into it. Then ask how you'd reach one of those. A route is often easier to find in reverse.
- Plan the whole board before your first move. Undo and Reset both cost you. A slide made just to see what happens is a slide you pay for.
- Remember the hole catches you. Any slide that passes over the hole ends in it. You don't need a rock behind it.
- Be suspicious of easy progress. If one slide lands you right by the hole, check you can actually get in from there.
- Use the edges. The walls stop you as well as rocks do. Many routes run along the outside before cutting in.
How is Glide scored?
Your score is your total moves across the three boards, against par. Finish at par and the heading says Par! Finish over par and it says Solved!, with the shortest count beside yours. Your results also break the moves down by board.
Glide has a daily leaderboard for signed-in players. It ranks how many moves you finished over par, so matching par is the best you can do and ties are possible. Only today's puzzle ranks, not past days. There's no timer. Your results track days solved, your streak, and how many days you've hit par.
How do you share your result?
The Share button copies your total moves against par:
Glide #3 / 22 moves (par 20) perdiem.games/glide
On a phone, Share opens your share sheet.
Is Glide like the ice puzzles in adventure games?
Yes. Plenty of classic adventure games have an ice floor where you slide until you hit something, and Glide is built on that rule. It adds three boards a day, the same for everyone, and a par to chase. See ice sliding puzzles for more on the idea. Glide isn't affiliated with any of those games.
Stuck on how to plan a route? Our post on ice puzzle tips works through a small board from the hole backwards.
Common questions
Is it the same puzzle for everyone?
Yes. The boards are generated from the date, so everyone gets the same three each day.
Can I play past puzzles?
Yes. Past days open from the week strip on your results screen.
Can I see the shortest route?
No. Your results show par for each board, but not the route itself.
Do I need an account?
No. Glide is free and runs in your browser with nothing to install.