Arrow Maze Design Case Study - Part 4 - Using Loops

December 5, 2021

Welcome to Part 4 of our Arrow Maze Design Case study where we will look at the use of loops. Loops are a great way to have some fun with the solver and create an interesting maze. They also allow the maze designer to help a solver move towards the goal without moving backwards. This is the last topic in the maze construction section.

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

Arrow Maze Construction and Design:

Arrow Maze Components:

Part 5 - Regular Arrows

Part 6 - Double Arrows

Extreme Arrow Maze examples:

Arrow Maze Design Case Study - Part 4 - Using Loops

For this example I will use a 9x9 box Arrow Maze, and fill it with a lot of intersections (and make those into loops). We already discussed in Part 3 how the more intersections that are used, the more difficult the maze becomes. This example has 9 intersections. Take some time and try to solve it.

What did you think ? Did you notice the loops in the maze ? I assume yes. I took some time to highlight the loops throughout the maze. First notice that I have a constructed START (we will speak about this in a future post). No matter which of the 3 blocks you move to from the START they all lead to the first intersection.

Now let’s follow the loops. RED is first. If you take the red path it leads back to where you are OR leads you to the next loop PURPLE which then leads you back to the RED loop either way !

The next pathway is the BLUE loop, which takes you to another intersection ( the blue double arrow) which takes you back into the RED / PURPLE loop or into the GREEN loop that circles back to the BLUE intersection -> to the RED PURPLE… UGH, unless you correctly chose the down black direction.

This goes to the BRIGHT GREEN loop that leads back to the first intersection if you take it.

Next is PINK which leads to either BRIGHT GREEN or YELLOW that loops you back to BLUE.

If you take the correct pathway from PINK you have only one loop remaining, the simple GREY that loops onto itself.

Loops, and loops within loops are a great way to make the maze interesting for the solver. Use them liberally and you will not need to send the solver back to the START. If you are designing a arrow maze for kids, loops are extremely important. I consider short loops the same as short, obvious dead ends in a regular maze…if you take it, you can quickly get back on track and moving towards the goal.

In Part 5 we start our topics on the individual components of the Arrow maze with the most basic component - Regular arrows,

Arrow Maze Design Case Study - Part 3 - Intersections

December 2, 2021

Welcome to Part 3 of our Arrow Maze Design Case study. We will look at the use of Intersection Arrows. Of all the arrows used these are the key arrows that create choice in an Arrow maze. Without them an Arrow maze would be more like an Arrow labyrinth.

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

Arrow Maze Construction and Design:

Arrow Maze Components:

Part 5 - Regular Arrows

Part 6 - Double Arrows

Extreme Arrow Maze examples:

Arrow Maze Design Case Study - Part 3- Intersections

For our first example we will use a 9 x 13 landscape Arrow Maze, and fill it with a total of 13 L shaped Intersections. These intersections are the standard way in an arrow maze to give the solver a decision to make on what direction they would like to continue in. The more choices (intersections) the more difficult the maze, since only one pathway will lead to the GOAL.

One of the great ways to use these intersection arrows is next to the START block, which will naturally expand the initial options of the solver. As shown in RED below, the 4 starting moves actually work like 6 possible starting moves/paths to choose since 2 intersections are possible from the START. If you are starting an Arrow maze from a tight space (say a corner), consider adding intersections right off the bat !

Arrow Maze possible starting moves shown

While this Arrow Maze used only L shaped intersections, you can also have an opposite direction decision arrow that works in the same way. Here is an example from my book (page 39). Take some time and try to solve this one. I used an extensive Looping system while constructing it that is intended to send the solver back near the start multiple times (unless you are lucky !!). It is actually a good example of that construction that we will cover in a future post.

This 8x9 Arrow Maze contains 70 solving blocks (72 minus START and GOAL) and 13 decisions, or roughly one every 18.5% of blocks (vs my first example 13/115 =11% of blocks). So despite being a smaller maze by 37% you are much more likely to get lost in it (in theory).

The summary of intersections - the more you use the more difficult the arrow maze.

In Part 4 I will look at the use of loops in a maze construction, a must for any arrow maze designer !

Arrow Maze Design Case Study - Part 2 Using Creative Shapes

November 30, 2021

Welcome to Part 2 of our Arrow Maze Design Case study. In this section of the case study we will look at the shape of the overall arrow maze. I call it using creative shapes, but it can just as easily be simple shapes.

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

Arrow Maze Construction and Design:

Arrow Maze Components:

Part 5 - Regular Arrows

Part 6 - Double Arrows

Extreme Arrow Maze examples:

Arrow Maze Design Case Study - Part 2 - Using Creative Shapes

The shape and size of the Arrow Maze will help determine the difficulty level and funability which is apparently not a word. Well, I say it is.

Funability - a measure how much fun an event or item contains

Now that we have that out of the way let’s begin with some obvious statements.

The larger the Arrow Maze (as measured by the number of blocks) the more difficult the potential maze
Interesting shapes, including those with notches and gaps creates a more interesting solving experience and allows for more ‘visually hidden’ moves.

Let’s look at a few examples: Simple 9x9 maze (81 blocks). Nothing to write home about. The maze complexity in completely dependent on how the blocks are filled.

Here is a shape that is based off an 8x8 but has cutouts that give it a pinch point in the center. This means the loops do not return you to start, but return you to the midpoint intersection block. The shape essentially splits the maze into two sections.

Based off on an 8 x 9 grid, this maze has a cutout to give it an O shape. In this maze the flow of the pathways is counterclockwise around the center space.

My next example uses floating blocks that can only be reached by using double arrows. It also includes lots of gaps that can be jumped. Overall the shape helps make a more interesting solve. It includes a forced START move and a double move is needed to reach the GOAL.

I have made a few dozen 45 degree angle Arrow Mazes. This particular maze comes from my maze book (page 49!). While this maze looks interesting and is a nice change of pace from a regular shaped maze, the actual maze design is not really affected. Everything is at a 45 degree angle. I like to mix these in for a change of pace. The shape, however, does have many nocks and crannies to move in and out of !

And let’s look at 3 more shapes that are large scale landscape mazes that I made with interesting shapes to force certain moves. I like all three. Take some time to solve them, I think they are enjoyable mazes.

The moral of this portion of the case study - Be creative with your shapes !

Our next topic in Part 3 - Intersections

Arrow Maze Design Case Study - Part 1 Start Locations and Options

November 28, 2021

One of my favorite types of mazes to make is the Arrow Maze. I have a book on Amazon of 100 Arrow Mazes, and it is one of the few ,and possibly only? maze book that is available on Kindle. This is because an Arrow Maze can be solved WITHOUT a writing utensil. In fact most people use their eyes or a hovering finger to solve an Arrow Maze. In a series of 14 posts I will be going through some of the design decisions that go into making a successful and fun Arrow Maze. I will be going to extremes in many of these to make the point more impactful.

The 14 part series has 3 major themes we will delve into; Arrow Maze Construction and Design, Arrow Maze Components and Extreme Arrow Maze examples.

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

Arrow Maze Construction and Design:

Arrow Maze Components:

Part 5 - Regular Arrows

Part 6 - Double Arrows

Extreme Arrow Maze examples:

Arrow Maze Design Case Study - Part 1 - Start Locations and Options

Making an Arrow Maze start with where you place the START block in the maze. Seems like an easy decision, but there are a few things for you to consider. We will look at a total of 15 different examples, using mini grids to represent larger mazes. Beginning in the top left and moving left to right using our example below:

Corner Starts: you have 3 blocks to work with which can have pathways either in, or out (left). You can use an intersection arrow to create an additional pathway out (center). You can also force a direction for your solver as in the top right example where all 3 initial options lead to the same arrow eventually (right).

Edge Starts: moving away from a corner with the START block gives you an additional 2 blocks for pathways either in or out. You have 5 blocks to work with using any combination of pathways in/out (left, right). You may maximize your out pathways again by using intersection arrows, jumping your pathways to 7 (middle example).

Center Starts: For maximum pathway options you can use a center placed block. This will give you 8 pathways full of regular arrows (left, right). Again using intersection arrows you can maximize your pathways at 12 (center).

Arrow Maze starting options explained — Arrow Maze START options

The summary for these options is that the farther from a corner/edge you place the START. the more options you have.

Let’s look at 6 additional examples with some more complicated STARTs.

Double Arrows: Our first example uses a forced start (there is only 1 choice), but if you want to lead a solver back to the START you can use a Double Arrow to get there (in this case over a gap). The second example uses all 3 blocks as OUT pathways, but uses 2 double arrows to get the solver back to START if they take an incorrect choice. Another way to achieve this, meaning using every block as an OUT pathway from START is to use a RETURN TO START block somewhere in the maze.

Forced Starts: You can use the shape of the maze to create forced moves. The first two examples in row 2 below only allow 1 move, while the third example gives you 2 options. Basically you are placing the START in a position that limits the choices.

Arrow Maze starting options - forced start explanations

You have a lot of options with the START block. Consider the difficulty you want with your maze when you place your START block.

And now a Special case…..the Slide Arrow, which will be a part of a future case study. A slide arrow allows you to slide to any block that it is pointing towards (but not over any gaps)….so using a slide arrow really gives you many additional options. Check how quickly the numbers get large…basically however wide or tall the maze is !!