Arrow Maze Design Case Study - Part 10 Slide Arrows

Welcome to Part 10 of our Arrow Maze Design Case study. In this section we will delve into the Slide Arrow, which can make up an entire type of maze…or can become simply a special move within a regular Arrow Maze.

Here is an overview of what we will be covering in the 14 part series:

Arrow Maze Construction and Design:

• Part 1 - Start Locations and Options

• Part 2 - Using Creative Shapes

• Part 3 - Intersections

• Part 4 - Using Loops

Arrow Maze Components:

• Part 5 - Regular Arrows

• Part 6 - Double Arrows

• Part 7 - Using the START GOAL

• Part 8 - Return to Start Block

• Part 9 - Using Warp Zones

• Part 10 - Slide Arrows

• Part 11 - All Ways Arrow

• Part 12 - Long Arrow Use

Extreme Arrow Maze examples:

• Part 13 - Kitchen Sink Examples

• Part 14 - The Largest Arrow Maze in the World (I think)

Arrow Maze Design Case Study - Part 10 - Slide Arrows

Yes, a Slide Arrow Maze is a completely separate type of maze IMO to an Arrow Maze. They use the same shapes…the same START and GOALS…and both are full of arrows in a block format. BUT. And, for me it is an important but. They are different types of mazes. A complete Slide Arrow Maze is MUCH MORE DIFFICULT to solve than an Arrow Maze. It is not even close. It is also much harder to design and create. I did the below comparison for my How To Draw a Maze posts:

Arrow Maze Comparisons

So landing on a Slide Arrow means you can slide to ANY block it is pointing to (but you can not jump gaps). So in an Arrow Maze you make choices at the START, and at intersections…but in a Slide Arrow Maze each move is a choice…and typically MANY choices. So the move possibilities get much higher, much faster. You can also solve a Slide Arrow Maze from a point very far away from the GOAL.

Here is a Slide Arrow Maze example. It is a simple 6x6 with no notches in the shape. Should be easy…right ?

But that is not why we are here. If you are interested in trying a full book of Slide Arrow Mazes I made a free downloadable book you can find here. I like to use a slide arrow every once in awhile to give the solvers some options within a regular arrow maze. The first example below uses the slide in a very specific way. From the START you have a forced move onto a slide arrow. The move from the slide arrow gives the solver 8 possible blocks to move to. So, I have used the slide arrow to manufacture a very difficult start !!

Ok, let’s look at a maze with multiple slide arrows. Check out this hourglass shaped maze (page 65 in an upcoming book). Give it a try.

Did you notice that in order to cross from the top portion of the hourglass to the bottom part you must use the slide arrow - both regular arrows direct you back to the top portion of the maze ! A little bit of nuance that can make the design and solve more fun ! You can even imagine a maze where all the arrows are pointing one direction but a slide arrow cuts through them to the other side.

In Part 11 I will tell you about the use of the All Ways Arrow !