Game guides
Number Pop — Free Number Connection Puzzle
Number Pop is a free number puzzle game: chain 1 → 2 → 3 and pop. Play in your phone or PC browser with no download; rules, Score Challenge and Popbot duels explained.
Confirming a connection
On the 6-column, 8-row board, connect at least three orthogonally adjacent numbers, increasing by one each time. 1→2→3, 2→3→4 and 3→4→5 are all valid. Diagonals and skipped numbers are invalid. Hold and drag, then release to confirm. Moving back to the previous tile removes your last selection.
Read a route before moving
Before touching a 1, locate an adjacent 2 and a 3 beside that 2. A diagonal 3 cannot finish the route. Try a different starting tile or begin at 2 instead. Color can help locate numbers, but the values and positions determine whether the move is valid.
Try a small example
Tap 1 → 2 → 3 in order. Only horizontal or vertical neighbors connect. In the full game, drag instead of tapping each tile.
Show a worked solution
The top-row 1→2→3 is valid. You can also start at 3 on the second row, move to the 4 beside it, then down to 5. A diagonal jump is invalid.
How the timer changes
Score Challenge starts at 90 seconds. Time rewards depend on connection length, tier, accumulated bonus time and remaining time. Three-tile base rewards decrease with tier; four- and five-tile routes use separate scaling. The old claim that every tile always adds 0.3 seconds is not the current rule. Watch the actual timer and reward shown in the game.
Scores, combos and Fever
Base connection scores are 30, 50 and 80 for three, four and five tiles; Score Challenge can add combo and tier multipliers. Fever doubles connection scores in Score Challenge, and the result screen adds settlement bonuses. A five-tile route starts at 80 points before multipliers. Compare the value of a longer route with the time spent searching; an available three-tile move can change a difficult board.
Playing against Popbot
Take turns on a shared board and reach the selected target of 400, 700 or 1500 points first. Tiles refill after a move, so making a short connection cannot guarantee a difficult board for the bot. Check available points and your turn timer. Turn limits vary with difficulty.
Compare your own rounds
Alongside your best score, compare maximum combo, route lengths and the moment you ran out of time. Try short routes in one round and more four- or five-tile routes in another. Different boards make a single result inconclusive. Personal records stay in the browser and can be lost when site data is cleared.
Current scores and modes
Base scores are 30/50/80 for 3/4/5 tiles, including the tutorial. Score Challenge adds combo, level and Fever effects. Popbot targets are 400/700/1500, with 15/10/8.5 seconds per turn by opponent. Links within 3 seconds earn +10; a deficit of at least 100 triggers catch-up scoring. Daily Challenge allows 20 links without hints. Final Score Challenge bonuses include a best-combo bonus only from 5 combos, (level−1)×200 and 80 for each five-tile link.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. Can I connect numbers diagonally or skip numbers in Number Pop?
A. No, connections must be strictly horizontal or vertical between adjacent tiles in increasing order (e.g. 1 → 2 → 3).
Q. How do I score over 100 points in Number Pop?
A. Check remaining time and the next number before searching for a longer route. Combos, tier, Fever and settlement bonuses affect scores; time rewards are not fixed at a particular score.
Q. How do I beat Popbot in duel mode?
A. Players share a board and tiles refill after a move. A short connection cannot guarantee a difficult board for the bot. Check your target and turn timer, then choose a route you can finish.
Player Tips
Share your secret strategies or record-breaking tips with other players!
Updates & Dev Notes
Check out Number Pop’s latest patch notes, bug fixes, and development story.
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