2026-01-05
Puzzle guide
Full breakdown using the Analytical breakdown format — checkpoint hops, corridor notes, wall map, and strategy notes.
Overview
Zip Level 5 is part of our exclusive Zip level track. Zip is LinkedIn's path puzzle: draw one continuous route through a 6×6 grid, visit every cell exactly once, hit 5 numbered checkpoints in order, and navigate around 6 walls. This page includes the live board, a solved-board view, and a step-by-step Solution walkthrough. Difficulty: Easy. Estimated solve time: 3–5 min.
Answer
This 6×6 Zip route visits all 36 cells once, hits 5 checkpoints in order, and respects 6 walls:
1→2 (16 cells, R5C2→R4C6); 2→3 (7 cells, R4C6→R1C3); 3→4 (2 cells, R1C3→R1C2); 4→5 (14 cells, R1C2→R5C5)
Many blocked edges narrow your options early — map wall bottlenecks before tracing toward the next numbered checkpoint.
Analysis
Zip Level 5 is a 6×6 Zip board with 5 numbered checkpoints and 6 walls. The Hamiltonian path visits all 36 cells once, hits checkpoints 1–5 in order, and ends on the final number. Segment plan: 1→2 (16 cells, R5C2→R4C6); 2→3 (7 cells, R4C6→R1C3); 3→4 (2 cells, R1C3→R1C2); 4→5 (14 cells, R1C2→R5C5).
Board spotlight: Many blocked edges narrow your options early — map wall bottlenecks before tracing toward the next numbered checkpoint. Wall count 6 on 6×6 shapes which corridors stay open between numbered cells.
Segment 1 (1→2): 16 cells from R5C2 to R4C6. Long 16-cell sweep (44% of the board) from checkpoint 1 to 2 — most of the Hamiltonian path lives in this detour.
Segment 2 (2→3): 7 cells from R4C6 to R1C3. 7 cells link checkpoint 2 at R4C6 to checkpoint 3 at R1C3 with open corridors (no walls on this segment).
Segment 3 (3→4): 2 cells from R1C3 to R1C2. Tight 2-cell hop — checkpoints 3 and 4 sit near each other; still visit every intervening cell exactly once.
Segment 4 (4→5): 14 cells from R1C2 to R5C5. Long 14-cell sweep (39% of the board) from checkpoint 4 to 5 — most of the Hamiltonian path lives in this detour.
Complete path: 36 cells, checkpoints in order, ending on 5. Pattern: dense-wall maze — Many blocked edges narrow your options early — map wall bottlenecks before tracing toward the next numbered checkpoint.
Checkpoint hops
Corridor insight
Hop 1: Long 16-cell sweep (44% of the board) from checkpoint 1 to 2 — most of the Hamiltonian path lives in this detour.
Solving note
Trace 16 cells from checkpoint 1 (R5C2) to checkpoint 2 (R4C6).
Corridor insight
Hop 2: 7 cells link checkpoint 2 at R4C6 to checkpoint 3 at R1C3 with open corridors (no walls on this segment).
Solving note
Trace 7 cells from checkpoint 2 (R4C6) to checkpoint 3 (R1C3).
Corridor insight
Hop 3: Tight 2-cell hop — checkpoints 3 and 4 sit near each other; still visit every intervening cell exactly once.
Solving note
Trace 2 cells from checkpoint 3 (R1C3) to checkpoint 4 (R1C2).
Corridor insight
Hop 4: Long 14-cell sweep (39% of the board) from checkpoint 4 to 5 — most of the Hamiltonian path lives in this detour.
Solving note
Trace 14 cells from checkpoint 4 (R1C2) to checkpoint 5 (R5C5).
Verification
The archived path is the unique Hamiltonian route on this board: 36 orthogonally adjacent steps, checkpoints 1 through 5 in order, 6 walls never crossed. Each segment 1→2, 2→3, 3→4, 4→5 is the shortest viable corridor that still leaves enough open cells for the remaining sweep.
Solve path
Phase 1: Start at checkpoint 1 (R5C2) on this 6×6 grid with 5 checkpoints and 6 walls. Segment 1: Visit checkpoint 2 at R4C6 via 16 cells from checkpoint 1. Long 16-cell sweep (44% of the board) from checkpoint 1 to 2 — most of the Hamiltonian path lives in this detour. Segment 2: Visit checkpoint 3 at R1C3 via 7 cells from checkpoint 2. 7 cells link checkpoint 2 at R4C6 to checkpoint 3 at R1C3 with open corridors (no walls on this segment). Segment 3: Visit checkpoint 4 at R1C2 via 2 cells from checkpoint 3. Tight 2-cell hop — checkpoints 3 and 4 sit near each other; still visit every intervening cell exactly once. Segment 4: Visit checkpoint 5 at R5C5 via 14 cells from checkpoint 4. Long 14-cell sweep (39% of the board) from checkpoint 4 to 5 — most of the Hamiltonian path lives in this detour. Complete: Hamiltonian path covers all 36 cells, checkpoints 1–5 in order, ending on checkpoint 5 at R5C5.
Pattern
Many blocked edges narrow your options early — map wall bottlenecks before tracing toward the next numbered checkpoint.
Learn more in Zip Puzzle Strategies →Takeaways
On Zip Level 5, plan 4 hops (1→2 (16 cells), 2→3 (7 cells), 3→4 (2 cells), 4→5 (14 cells)) before filling stray cells — Zip rewards reaching the next number without trapping leftovers.
Many blocked edges narrow your options early — map wall bottlenecks before tracing toward the next numbered checkpoint.
6 walls on 6×6 — mark blocked edges before committing to a corridor toward checkpoint 2.
Solution
This 6×6 board has 5 checkpoints (1@R5C2, 2@R4C6, 3@R1C3, 4@R1C2, 5@R5C5) and 6 walls. The solution path covers 36 cells in 4 checkpoint hops: 1→2 (16 cells, R5C2→R4C6); 2→3 (7 cells, R4C6→R1C3); 3→4 (2 cells, R1C3→R1C2); 4→5 (14 cells, R1C2→R5C5). Many blocked edges narrow your options early — map wall bottlenecks before tracing toward the next numbered checkpoint. Use the Solution tab for a checkpoint-segment reveal with live board updates, or the Solved board tab for the complete path at a glance.