A sliding tile puzzle in which a series of rectangular tiles having exposed upper surfaces marked with indicia are packed together in a square planar array for lateral sliding movement in the planar array into a vacant space to change the relative positions of the tiles in the array thereby altering the indicia sequence. Tile turntables are mounted in four corners of the array so that tiles can be slid laterally thereon and are connected by gears to a handle shaft which extends perpendicularly below the array and which can be pushed axially upwards and twisted to raise the corner tiles above the plane of the array and rotate them for return to the array in a changed angular position. Upward movement of the shaft also raised a locking plate into engagement with adjacent tiles to prevent movement thereof.