${DynamicText("About this genre (loading...)")}
@NaokiInaba lists this genre simply as "Pure Loop" (プレーンループ), and is the earliest source found so far. However, the genre is likely to have been set in this form even earlier...
The underlying hamiltonian cycle problem is obviously much older (see [knights-tour-closed] ).
Finally, the related genre [Alcazar] shares much of the same logic.
This page lists the following common simple loop variants:
VARIANT (NEW LINK) MEANING First puzzle by
[unequal length|§unequal-length] No two consecutive segments may share the same length @ft029
[crossing|§crossing] The loop may cross itself (4-way junction) @EricFox [1|https://ericfox53.blogspot.com/2021/09/324-simple-loop-crossing.html]
[short|§short] forbids segments of length greater than 2 units @EricFox [1|https://ericfox53.blogspot.com/2021/12/400-simple-loop-short.html], [2|https://ericfox53.blogspot.com/2022/03/457-simple-loop-short.html]
[shortest|§shortest] forbids segments of length greater than 1 unit ?
[directions|§directions] directions indicated by arrows must be respected @Millay [1|https://puzsq.logicpuzzle.app/puzzle/16811]
[hex|§hex] on a hex grid @scor [1|]
[kiki|§kiki] all turns must be sharp @menderbug [1|https://brokensign.com/puzzle/2023/02/27/simple-loop-kiki.html]
[non-consecutive-lengths|§non-consecutive-lengths] consecutive segments my not differ by one (exactly) @takmu [1|https://twitter.com/takmu53/status/1660644594374131718]
§:=paper-puzzle-player.html?W=6&EDIT=1&G=simple-loop&V=
## [Simple Loop] puzzles
### @NaokiInaba
This puzzle set by @NaokiInaba was found and transcribed by @PinkHoodie
W=4x4&L=x0x6x6x3&SS=2DRDRURULULLD&G=simple-loop&A=Naoki_Inaba&B=PinkHoodie&D=2010-05-15&N=1&T=プレーンループ_(Pure_Loop)_Example
W=8x8&L=x5x5x10x11x1x10x3x15&SS=57DLLULLDLULDLUUUURDRDRRULURULLLULURRDRRURDRURDDLDLDRRDLDR&G=simple-loop&A=Naoki_Inaba&B=PinkHoodie&D=2010-05-15&N=2&T=プレーンループ_(Pure_Loop)
W=9x9&L=x20x3x3x10x3x2x14x4x3x10x4&SS=18RULLUUURDRDRDRDRRURUULDLLURURURUUULDDLULULLDRDRDDLLUULULULDDRDLDDDDDRR&G=simple-loop&A=Naoki_Inaba&B=PinkHoodie&D=2010-05-15&N=3&T=プレーンループ_(Pure_Loop)
W=10x10&L=x16x5x12x6x6x5x3x14x4x13x8x7&SS=95UUULULLLLDLLULLDRDLDDDDDRDLDRRRRULULULUURDRUULURRDRUURRDRDDLULDLDLDDRDRDRRRULULLUURDRRUU&G=simple-loop&A=Naoki_Inaba&B=PinkHoodie&D=2010-05-15&N=4&T=プレーンループ_(Pure_Loop)
W=16x16&L=x9x10x8x6x24x3x3x6x11x3x4x19x2x3x5x4x10x5x20x5x5x4x9x5x5x3x21x3x3x19x6x6&SS=158DDRURURURDRURDDDLLULDDRRRDLDLDLDDRDRUUURDDDDLDLDLDRRURDDLLLLULULURURDRUULULUURURULULDLDLDRDDLLULDLDDRURRRDLDLLDRDRRDLLLULULUULDLDRDRDLLLLURULUUUUUURDRDLDDRURURULULULULUUUUURRDLDDRURURURDRDRDDLLUULDDLLDRRRDLDRRURURUUUULURRRDL&G=simple-loop&A=Naoki_Inaba&B=PinkHoodie&D=2010-05-15&N=5&T=プレーンループ_(Pure_Loop)
## Variants
### ´´short´´
W=10x7&L=x8x10x5x14x9x17x3x1&SS=68LDLDRDRDLDLLURULULULLDRDDRDLLULDLLUURRULLURULURRDRURDRURDRURRD&V=short&G=simple-loop&A=Pedro&T=Short
### ´´shortest´´
W=14x8&L=x0x7x11x1x1x1x5x3x75x3x1x3&SS=11LURULURURDRURDRURDRURDRURDRURDRDLDLULDLULDLULDLULDLDRDRURDRURDRURDRURDRDLDLULDLULDLULDLULDLULDLULURU&V=shortest&G=simple-loop&A=Pedro&T=Shortest&K=random8
### ´´unequal-lengths´´
This variant can be seen to stem both from **simple loop** or of from [Unequal Length Mazes]. It was devised by @ft029:
#### @ft029
W=19&H=11&L=x0x1x3x1x7x5x5x2x6x1x59x1x1x1x1x1x11x1x2x12x19x1x3x10x2x2x9x8x7x1x4x13x1x25x1x1x5x1&G=simple-loop&V=unequal-length&F=4&A=ft029&D=14/02/2022
#### @apiad
W=9&H=9&L=x49x35&G=simple-loop&V=unequal-length&A=apiad&D=15/02/2022
##### Minimum-clue page.title
All other minimum clue page.title puzzles with dimensions 9x9 to 11x11 were found by @Apiad via a computer search.
These puzzles do not necessarily have a clean logic path and were included for completeness.
###### 9x9
W=9x9&L=x23x11x2&G=simple-loop&V=unequal-length&A=apiad&T=9x9_minimum_
W=9x9&L=x24x17x15&G=simple-loop&V=unequal-length&A=apiad&T=9x9_minimum_
###### 10 x 10
W=9&H=9&L=x24x25&G=simple-loop&V=unequal-length&A=apiad&T=10x10_minimum_
###### 11 x 11
W=10&H=10&L=x17x40x26&G=simple-loop&V=unequal-length&A=apiad&T=11x11_minimum_
W=10&H=10&L=x36x21x9&G=simple-loop&V=unequal-length&A=apiad&T=11x11_minimum_
W=10&H=10&L=x36x6x23&G=simple-loop&V=unequal-length&A=apiad&T=11x11_minimum_
W=10&H=10&L=x58x7x19&G=simple-loop&V=unequal-length&A=apiad&T=11x11_minimum_
### ´´hex´´
V=hex
@PinkHoodie kindly sent this ´´hex´´ puzzle
W=7x7x7&L=x4x1x6x1x1x3x4x1x1x3x5x6x3x2x3x1x3x2x2x1x2x5x2x2x1x1x3x1x4x5x1x4x4x1x5x2x2x2x3x1x2x2x6x7x4x1&SS=91LULLULDWLWRRDWDDRWWWUUUEULLWDRWDDDRDREEDDRRUUULEEULUUERDDEERDWWWDDDEUERUUEUUUULWD&V=hex&G=simple-loop&A=PinkHoodie&D=2024-03-18&F=2&T=Imperfect_Battleship_Redux
### ´´crossing,no-shortest´´
V=crossing,no-shortest
W=8x7&L=x5x1x7x8x2x1x4x13x7x7&SS=46DLDRRDDLLUULUURR6UULLLULLDDLLDDDDRRUUUURRULLLDDDDRRRRRUUR&G=simple-loop&V=crossing,no-shortest&A=PinkHoodie&D=2024-04-29&F=2&O=シュプールループ_:Crossing+No_Shortest&T=Spooleds
## Classic page.title
### @PinkHoodie
W=18x18&L=x5x5x27x1x6x5x10x3x2x7x14x7x1x2x1x7x15x5x11x1x4x7x2x1x3x12x20x1x4x4x16x5x4x1x3x6x1x13x9x2x2x7x1x15x4x2x1x9x15x8&SS=258RULUULUULDLDRDLLLDRDRURRDDLLDRRDDRRURDRDDLULDLLULDLUUULDDDLULDLLLLLLLLURULUURDRURDRDLDRRRRULURRRUUULULDLDRDLLLUULLDLULUUURDDRRRURDRUULULDLLULULURULUUUURRDLDDRURURURDRURDDDRDRDDLULLUULULDLDDLDRRURDRRDRDRURUURUURULLDLULUURDRURRDRDRDLDDRURRUUULLURRRDDDDDLDLDDRURDDLDRDDDLULDLUU&G=simple-loop&A=PinkHoodie&D=2024-09-20&F=3&T=18x18_1
W=10x10&L=x3x1x3x4x6x4x4x8x4x1x2x1x1x3x13x1x3x1x3x3x1x3x3x1x6x1x12x1&SS=57RURURRDLDDDRDDDDDLUULDLDLUUULURRRULLULLDDLDDRDDLLLUURUUULURRUULLURRRRDDR&G=simple-loop&A=PinkHoodie&D=2024-09-19&F=2&O=Simple_Loop&T=Pearltonian
W=10x10&L=x4x1x12x1x3x1x12x1x16x1x3x1x16x1x2x1x2x1&SS=23LLDRDLDRRRUUURDDDRRRRRUUUUULURUUULDDLLDDDRRDDDLLUULULUULULURRDRURULLLLLLDDDRRDLDRD&G=simple-loop&A=PinkHoodie&D=2024-09-02&F=2&T=Falling_Dominoes_3
W=10x10&L=x2x1x5x1x17x1x3x1x2x1x18x1x3x1x14x1x2x1x3x1&SS=55DRUURRDDDLLDDLLDRRRRRULURUUUUUUULDDLLUULDLULLLDRRDRDLDLLUULDDDRRDLDDLDRRUURRUUUR&G=simple-loop&A=PinkHoodie&D=2024-08-16&F=2&T=Dominoes_Falling_1
W=10x10&L=x4x1x6x1x14x1x6x1x7x1x5x1x7x1x16x1x3x1x17x1&SS=85LLUULURRRDDRUUULLLLLLLLLDDDRUURRDDRDLLLDRDLLDDDRRUURDDRRRRRRUUULDDLLLURULLURRRRU&G=simple-loop&A=PinkHoodie&D=2024-08-16&F=2&T=Dominoes_Falling_2
W=55x6&L=x0x5x9x18x6x1x1x1x3x13x5x13x3x1x1x1x6x11x2x16x6x1x1x1x3x11x2x18x3x1x1x1x5x18x12x3x3x1x1x1x3x13x5x15x3x1x1x1x3x15x2x11x6x1x1x1x6x9x3x20&SS=319LDRRUUUULULDLULLLLLLDRDDLULULULDDRDRDLLLLUUULULLLLDDRURRDRDDLLULDLLLLUURULULLLLLLLLLLLDDRURRDDLLDLLLLUURUULDLULLLLLLLLDLULDDRDRDLLLLLULULURRDRUULLLLDLDRDLDRDRURDRRRRRRRURDRUULULURRRRRDRRDDLLULDDRRRRRRRRRRURDRUULUURRRDRURRDLDLDLDRRURDRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRURUUURRRDDLDDRURURURDD&G=simple-loop&A=PinkHoodie&D=2024-07-31&F=3&T=Concatica
W=10x10&L=x0x1x5x34x3x2x4x29x4x4&SS=3DRUURDRDLDLDRRURURURURURDDLDLDLDRRURDRUUUUUUULURULLLLDRDRDLDLDLLULUURDRRULULULDLULDDRDDLDD&G=simple-loop&A=PinkHoodie&D=2024-07-07&F=1&T=Wormas
W=10x10&L=x2x23x2x13x5x18x30x4&SS=22LULURULUUUURRRRDRURDRURRDLDLDLULDLULULLDDRRDDLDRDRRULURURDRURURDDLDLDLDRRURDDLLLLULLDLLLURRU&G=simple-loop&A=PinkHoodie&D=2024-07-08&F=3&T=Corner_Shots_1
W=10x10&L=x2x4x48x5x13x2x24x1&SS=16DLDDRURDDLDLDRRURDRURDRRRRUUUULURUULDLDLDDRRDDLLULULDLUURURURURURULLDLDLDLDLUURURULLDLULDDRD&G=simple-loop&A=PinkHoodie&D=2024-07-08&F=3&T=Corner_Shots_2
W=10x10&L=x9x5x16x7x23x7x17x13&SS=32LULDDRDLLUUUUUUUURURDRURDDDRUUURDRURRDLDLDLDLDLULULULDDRDRDRDRURURURURDDDDDDLLURUULDLDLDLULU&G=simple-loop&A=PinkHoodie&D=2024-07-10&F=2&T=Mèo
W=10x10&L=x0x10x7x7x5x3x3x17x14x3x2x3x7x5&SS=95UULURULLDLLULLDRDDLULULULDDDRRDLLDRDLDDRURURURURUURRDDLDLDLDDLLDRRRURDRRRUULLLURRRULUR&G=simple-loop&A=PinkHoodie&D=2024-07-01&F=2&T=Sledis
W=10x10&L=x2x14x5x2x5x7x5x3x4x8x14x2x3x23&SS=65ULURURURRDLDLDDRURDDLDRDLDRDLLLLURURULLDLDLDLLLURURRUULULDDLUUUURULURRRRRDLLDLDRRDDRRU&G=simple-loop&A=PinkHoodie&D=2024-05-29&F=2&T=Rifsis
W=10x10&L=x2x19x2x16x1x3x2x12x8x6x7x5x12x4&SS=69DLULDLLULLDRDLDRDLDDRURURULURRDRDDLLDDLLDLDRRRURURURURDDLDLDRRRRULURUULULULURRDRUULULL&G=simple-loop&A=PinkHoodie&D=2024-05-29&F=1&T=Aziz_Ship
W=10x10&L=x0x1x13x1x3x10x3x5x5x2x3x7x5x7x3x2x1x2x2x8x15x1&SS=49RRRRDLDRRDDDDDDDLUULLUURRUULLULDDDLULLDRDDRRDRDLLLLLURUULDLUUUURRULLUURRRDDRUU&G=simple-loop&A=PinkHoodie&D=2024-05-22&F=2&T=Domino_Falls_1
W=10x10&L=x0x1x13x10x4x4x6x4x3x1x19x1x4x1x13x1x13x1&SS=69LLLLLLDRDLDRRURDDLLLDDDRURDDLDRRURDRRULURRURDDDRUUUUUUULDLDDLDLLLURRUUULURRDRURULL&G=simple-loop&A=PinkHoodie&D=2024-05-22&F=2&T=Domino_Falls_2
W=16x10&L=x9x6x4x2x4x6x12x1x3x1x12x1x3x1x3x1x14x2x1x7x5x10x6x1x6x10x5x1x6x1&SS=87LLLUULLLDRDLDLUULDDDDRRRDDLULLDRDLDRRRRRULURRRULLUULLURRRRDDRRRULUURDRRULURRRDDDLLDRDDLULLDRDLLULDLDRRRRRRRRULURUUUUUUULLLLLLLLDRD&G=simple-loop&A=PinkHoodie&D=2024-05-23&F=3&T=Domino_Falls_3
W=10x10&L=x22x3x3x5x19x2x5x13x6x8&SS=83DDLLUULLDLDLLUURULUURURURULLLLDRDLDDDDDDDRRRRURDRRRRUUUULURUULURULLLDLDLDLDDRURURURDDLDRDR&G=simple-loop&A=PinkHoodie&D=2024-04-05&F=2&T=Bounce_House
W=16x10&L=x6x16x14x4x16x12x4x2x10x6x8x4x2x20x6x12x5x7&SS=86LDLUURUULLLLLDLULDDRDDLDDDDDRRRULLUUURDRDRDRDRRRULLULULULULUURURRDLDDRDRDRRDRDRDRRULURURDDRDRUUULULULULULURRDRDRDRUUUULDLULLLLLDDRDRDRDDLLUULU&G=simple-loop&A=PinkHoodie&D=2024-05-23&F=2&T=Rembos
W=16x10&L=x2x7x6x12x5x2x20x5x16x5x7x7x12x2x16x5x7x17x3x3&SS=131DLULDLLURURURDRUUULULULLDLDRRRDLDLDLDLDLULDLLLLLURURDRRURURDRURULLULULULDLDRRDDLLULDLUUURULURURDRURDRDRDRUULURRDRURRDRDRUURDRDLDDRDLDDRDDLUL&G=simple-loop&A=PinkHoodie&D=2024-05-23&F=2&T=Reves
## Changes
**2023-02-15** Created the Unequal Length Loop page, with puzzles from @ft029 and @apiad
**2023-09-08** Added the ´´crossing´´ variant, and gathered all other simple loop variants in this page
**2023-09-12** The grid is now checkered by default, lines are multi-coloured, and shading aux marks can be kept alongside lines
**2023-09-18** Added the variant ´´directions´´ by @Millay
**2023-09-22** Added the variants ´´hex´´ by @scor and *kiki* by @Menderbug
**2023-09-23** Merged the Unequal Length Loop page into Simple Loop
**2023-11-09** Opposing directional arrows erase each other in the directions variant - thanks @Rubrica!
**2023-11-14** Directional arrows now work within the hex variant, as first tried by @PinkHoodie.
**2023-11-16** The ´´vertigo´´ variant by @Endagorion was added!
**2024-20-03** :::puzzletters A ´´hex´´ puzzle by @PinkHoodie, making use of the new hex checkerboard pattern, was listed - thank you.
**2024-05-03** :::puzzletters @PinkHoodie sent 1 puzzle using variant ´´crossing,no-shortest´´!
**2024-05-24** :::puzzletters @PinkHoodie sent 6 classics - thank you!
**2024-06-03** :::puzzletters @PinkHoodie sent 2 further classics - thank you!
**2024-07-06** :::puzzletters @PinkHoodie sent 1 classic this week, and found a day regression related to the ´´short´´/´´shortest´´ variants, now fixed (cause: registration missing after switching from implicit to explicit) Thank you!
**2024-07-12** :::puzzletters @PinkHoodie sent 4 classics - thank you!
**2024-08-04** :::puzzletters @PinkHoodie sent 1 classic - thank you!
**2024-08-12** A puzzle set by @NaokiInaba was transcribed by @PinkHoodie - thank you
**2024-09-01** :::puzzletters @PinkHoodie sent 2 classics - thank you!
**2024-09-07** :::puzzletters @PinkHoodie sent 1 classic - thank you!
**2024-09-10** A problem with the ´´shortest´´ puzzle was corrected (@random8)
**2024-09-21** :::puzzletters @PinkHoodie sent 2 classics - thank you!