How to Make a Block Move Maze

In a series of posts I will show you how to make a maze in a wide variety of design constructions. The 13th type of maze construction is the Block Move maze. Let’s define what I mean, then get into the example. Every example will use the sample basic outline (the state of Ohio) to better illustrate the differences between each maze type.

Block Move Maze - A maze design that is in the form of a puzzle where the solver needs to create a complete pathway in X number of moves to reach the goal and solve the maze.

How to Make a Block Move Maze

Step 1 - Draw the Outline

The outline of the maze makes the outer wall of the maze. For a block maze it will almost always be a square or rectangle, but it can be anything that a block fits in. The outline should be thicker than the internal lines to give the maze definition. In the example below I chose the state of Ohio ONLY to be consistent to compare maze constructions.

Step 1.5 - Choose the Start and Goal

For the below example I chose the start of Cleveland and the goal of Cincinnati. Unlike most mazes there is NOT an opening for the start and goal of the Block Move maze.

Step 2 - Draw the Grid

A Block move made is made from a grid pattern that will form the blocks. The more blocks you create, the more difficult the puzzle will be to solve.

Step 3 - Create the Start and Goal Blocks

Fill your starting and ending blocks with a bright color to indicate their importance. You may also use “Start” and “Goal” in the grids, which would also negate the use of the arrows.

Step 4 - Fill Blocks

Begin filling blocks with a neutral color. The filled blocks will create the possible pathways for the solver to use. Leave gaps in the pathway with adjacent blocks that can be shifted into them to allow possible solutions.

And continue filling in more blocks, catering to the path you want the solver to take.

Step 5 - Complete the Block Move Maze

Finish adding blocks until you have made a solution you like. Check that alternative paths do not work and adjust blocks as needed. Add directions to explain how to solve the puzzle. I only allow movement in the 4 main directions, since the possibilities of possible solves go up exponentially when diagonal moves are allowed. Also, give the # of moves that the block move maze must be solved in.

Step 6 - Make the Maze Solution

Highlight the correct path in the final version of the maze to create the final Maze solution. While this is optional for some constructions of mazes, the difficulty of drawing and solving a Block Move maze means that providing a solution is essential. Each move in my example is highlighted with a different color. Some paths can be made by moving multiple blocks to the same space and are noted by multiple arrows of the same color. This is also a time when you can change any blocks if you choose. Do you want to keep moves that have 3+ blocks that can work ? (your option).

Additional Black Move Maze Examples

Here are two examples of Block mazes in a more typical square shape. The first is for Kids with only 3 shifts needed to solve the maze, while the second requiring 5 moves is only slightly more complex.

If you want to see more examples, or just practice solving some block move mazes, I made a booklet of them that is available for free download in the book section of the site.

Interested in learning how to make or draw other types of digital mazes ? I have step by step instructions on how to make over 40 different maze types.

If you prefer making labyrinths, you can find step by step labyrinth making instructions.

How to Make an Objects Maze

In a series of posts I will show you how to make a maze in a wide variety of design constructions. The 12th type of maze construction is the Objects maze. Let’s define what I mean, then get into the example. Every example will use the sample basic outline (the state of Ohio) to better illustrate the differences between each maze type.

Objects Maze - Really an “Objects as Walls Maze.” Walls are created by adding objects to avoid almost like barriers. Objects can be anything that isn’t the traditional maze wall line. The object used will typically reflect the subject matter of the maze.

How to Make an Objects Maze

Step 1 - Draw the Outline

The outline of the maze makes the outer wall of the maze. It can be anything from a simple shape like a square, to a complex picture. The outline should be thicker than the internal lines to give the maze definition. In the example below I chose the state of Ohio.

Step 1.5 - Choose the Start and Goal

For the below example I chose the start of Cleveland and the goal of Cincinnati.

Step 2 - Start Filling the Maze with Objects

With the theme you have chosen, begin filling the outline with objects. For my Ohio example I decided to start with the major city names. This is where you can get very creative in your design. How about a maze of a soda that uses bubbles as the object walls ! A donut maze with sprinkles and toppings as the objects sounds interesting.

Step 3 - Add More Objects

Continue adding objects to fill the maze in the white spots. I chose the word OHIO rather than additional city names and began building walls. The thing about an object maze is that it takes a lot of time to fill the maze (especially if you use words as the object because of the gaps between letters).

I then added additional smaller fonts of OHIO for the smaller white spaces. Now that the maze is mostly full it is time to make the maze !

Step 4 - Make Maze Walls with Objects

Starting from the entrance of the maze start making barriers/walls by adding objects where they are needed. Because the objects in this example are words there are a lot of gaps to close. I used the letter O as you can see in Northeast Ohio.

Step 5 - Complete the Maze Walls

Object mazes are some of the most difficult to make as they are made from so many individual parts. Creating the example took a significant amount of time.

Step 6 - Make the Maze Solution

Highlight the correct path in the final version of the maze to create the final Maze solution. While this is optional for some constructions of mazes, the difficulty of drawing and solving an object maze means that providing a solution is essential. Because there were so many gaps to close I left some open intentionally so you could go on either side of a letter, but I also found an additional possible solution (in blue).

Additional Object maze Examples

Here are two additional examples of Objects mazes. The left uses boxes to create pathways (a box of boxes), while the maze on the right uses balls or circles as the objects.

For my third example I wanted to show how this maze type can be made more complex, just by adding additional boxes to this Box maze.

Interested in learning how to make or draw other types of digital mazes ? I have step by step instructions on how to make over 40 different maze types.

If you prefer making labyrinths, you can find step by step labyrinth making instructions.

How to Make a Spiral Maze

In a series of posts I will show you how to make a maze in a wide variety of design constructions. The 11th type of maze construction is the Spiral maze. Let’s define what I mean, then get into the example. Every example will use the sample basic outline (the state of Ohio) to better illustrate the differences between each maze type. While this shape works to compare the over 40 maze constructions I review on the site, the ideal shape for this construction is a rectangle/square. If you are more visual check out the video of the making of a spiral maze at the end of the post.

Spiral Maze - While a version of a spiral can be used in many maze constructions, a Spiral maze uses the spiral construction for the majority of the maze (and sometimes the entire maze), giving the maze a unique look.

HOW TO MAKE A SPIRAL MAZE

• Step 1 - Draw the Outline

The outline of the maze makes the outer wall of the maze. It can be anything from a simple shape like a square, to a complex picture. The outline should be thicker than the internal lines to give the maze definition. In the example below I chose the state of Ohio. Ideally your spiral maze will be a square or rectangle.

• Step 1.5 - Choose the Start and Goal

For the below example I chose the start of Cleveland and the goal of Cincinnati.

• Step 2 - Start Drawing the Spiral

Take the outline and begin making a spiral by drawing walls. Remember that as you build the spiral you must embed the spiral’s exit from the start. The first example below shows an entrance to the spiral in the NE corner that immediately splits into 2 possible pathways. The path to the right is the exit path. Notice the box is closed to create the spiral, so without the exit you would spiral to a dead end.

Continue drawing the walls towards the center, while occasionally splitting the pathway to confuse the solver. And, of course, keep track of which pathway is the exit ! I typically keep this pathway in a spot away from the other “open” incoming pathways that I have not made into dead ends/correct yet. The branches you create as you move towards the center can be hard to keep track of and checking your work is vital to get this maze construction correct. See the video below to watch how the branches are split out and come together in the center !

And finally complete the spiral by linking the exit to one of the entrance pathways in the center.

• Step 3 - Draw any Additional Walls

The use of Ohio as a template means a strictly spiral maze will be difficult because of the nooks and crannies of the shape. I think Colorado would make a much better example. In any case, draw additional walls to fill in the maze. I did a second smaller spiral to the right and a small flat spiral below the main spiral.

• Step 4 - Complete the Maze Walls

Completing the remaining walls to the goal.

• Step 5 - Make the Maze Solution

Highlight the correct path in the final version of the maze to create the final Maze solution. While this is optional for some constructions of mazes, the difficulty of drawing and solving a spiral maze mean that providing a solution is essential. I find that the solution of spiral mazes means longer solutions and using more of the maze. Below, a significant part of the maze is included in the solution.

Additional Spiral Maze examples

Here is an example of a spiral maze in a simple box format. When you have a rectangular shape to maze, the spiral maze construction is the perfect construction to use. The pathways are not wide but they are hard to follow with your eyes to solve (your eyes may jump lines and not know it). Typically any choices you make are not known to be wrong until you are in the center of the spiral and you reach a dead end or or loop. This can make even small spirals difficult to solve quickly.

For my second example, I have an easy Spiral maze. Not a lot of choices on the way in. Nice wide pathways.

My third example is a medium size scale Spiral Maze. Try to solve it with your eyes…so difficult.

Making of a Spiral Maze Video

Here is a video of the making of a spiral maze using standard equal maze paths.

Interested in learning how to make or draw other types of digital mazes ? I have step by step instructions on how to make over 40 different maze types.

If you prefer making labyrinths, you can find step by step labyrinth making instructions.

How to Make a Hidden Message Maze

In a series of posts I will show you how to make a maze in a wide variety of design constructions. The 10th type of maze construction is the Hidden Message maze. Let’s define what I mean, then get into the example. Every example will use the sample basic outline (the state of Ohio) to better illustrate the differences between each maze type. There is also a second type of hidden message maze called a Hidden Message Trail Maze. I will give an example of it below and explain how it works.

Hidden Message Maze - A maze of any type of construction that when solved, the correct path contains a hidden written message. The maze maker should have a goal to make the message as hidden as possible in an unsolved maze.

HOW TO MAZE A HIDDEN MESSAGE MAZE

• Step 1 - Draw the Outline

The outline of the maze makes the outer wall of the maze. It can be anything from a simple shape like a square, to a complex picture. The outline should be thicker than the internal lines to give the maze definition. In the example below I chose the state of Ohio.

• Step 1.5 - Choose the Start and Goal

For Hidden Message mazes the start and goal will typically start on the left of the outline with the goal on the right of the outline since you are writing in English. If hiding a message in other languages you may go right to left.

• Step 2 - Write the Guide Message

On the inside of the outline write the message you would like to hide in the maze. This will be your guide as you make the maze walls. Make sure the size is large enough to allow two passes of maze paths to make a letter. If your letters are too small you will not be able to hide the message as easily as drawing the pathways will become too difficult.

Quick Tip: The smaller the width of the pathways you use the easier it will be to hide a message. It is also easier for the solver to read the message when complete since a narrow pathway is filled more easily than a wide one by drawing a single line with a writing utensil.

• Step 3 - Maze the Hidden Message

Draw lines to create the maze walls, completing a letter at a time while moving left to right while creating the maze. As I mentioned before, the letters should be at least two pathways thick to ensure each letter can be made properly.

Entrances and exits to each letter should align.

Connect the letters to complete the message.

• Step 4 - Draw the False Pathways

After deleting the guide word, fill in the rest of the maze with false pathways. A decision you need to make is how much of an option you want these paths to actually be. Do you want the solver to actually possibly select the paths or would you prefer the maze solver follows a labyrinth path to automatically create the hidden message ? The below example allows the solver to fail by selecting false paths.

• Step 5 - Complete the Maze

Complete all false branches and assess how hidden your message actually is. In the example below do you know what the message is ? I believe it is well hidden.

• Step 6 - Make the Maze Solution

For a Hidden Message Maze this step is NOT optional. You need to see how the final product actually looks. Fill the correct pathway completely and see how you did ! I think the example came out well. If I could go back and make one change I would change the h to an H to make the “HI” more easily read. However, based on the context and construction of the maze I think it reads Ohio easily (unless you are not from the US, or unfamiliar with the state). If you do not like what you have made make some last minute adjustments !

So now you should be able to make a maze with a hidden message inside it, or a maze whose solution spells a word.

HIDDEN MAZE CASE STUDIES

If you want to see an alternative Case Study of the making of a hidden maze, I have a blog post about that also. In that version I use a variety of pre-made maze letters hidden in a maze to (hopefully) confuse the solver, fill the maze space and create a hidden maze.

I also delve into solving a maze (it also happens to be a hidden maze) using a reverse solve method in a separate case study.

ADDITIONAL HIDDEN MESSAGE MAZE TYPES

Before I show you more examples, let’s give you a quick example of the second type of Hidden Message Maze, the Hidden Message Trail Maze. While both mazes hide messages for the solver, the trail maze uses actual letters to hide the message for the solver instead of pathways forming the letters. If you want a similar step by step process to learn How to Make a Hidden Trail Message Maze, I have it. In the example below passing over a letter adds it to your message. The initial path options are “There are…” up and to the right, “The beard…” going down or “The Best…” moving to the left. Good Luck !

Hidden Message Trail Maze

I made a free downloadable book of Hidden Message Trail Mazes if they interest you. I added a few twists, including the addition of clues and the use of clues/idioms. You can check it out in the free downloadable book section. To give you an idea of what these are, can you solve this one ? The clues are the object (the basketball), the type of saying (a quote by Wilt Chamberlain) and the length of the words in the saying (shown by the dashes below the maze).

ADDITIONAL EXAMPLES AND FREE DOWNLOADABLE MAZE BOOK

Here is a another example of a Hidden Message Maze. These particular templates are all used for greeting cards. I have collected 34 different versions in a free downloadable Hidden Maze Book if you are up for a challenge. The pathway for this purpose does not have any choices (like a labyrinth) to ensure completion by the solver. I give extra examples to test just how good the messages are hidden in each one. Can you look at the maze and see what it says ? I certainly hope not !! The construction of these all use the standard equal construction (meaning the width of the pathways and the width of the walls are equal). If you want to see a variety of ways to maze individual letters I show them in this post.

If you like this challenge I have made it into 4 separate blog post challenges, 3 parts with 10 messages in English, and 1 part with a few Spanish words:

Hidden Message Maze challenge - Part 1

Hidden Message Maze challenge - Part 2

Hidden Message Maze challenge - Part 3

Desafío Laberinto de mensajes ocultos

Consider solving this with a pen, a marker, or a pencil. The narrow width of the pathways make the solution much more obvious when solved than wider pathways would. I also hid incorrect letter shaped pathways in the mazes to help confuse the solver.

MAKING A HIDDEN MAZE VIDEO

Finally, If you want to watch a quick 2 minute video of the making of a simple hidden message maze. Before you click play do you know what it says ?

Additional post you may like:

Interested in learning how to make or draw other types of digital mazes ? I have step by step instructions on how to make over 40 different maze types.

If you prefer making labyrinths, you can find step by step labyrinth making instructions.

The 12 Best Maze - Labyrinth movies of all time

Creating a Hidden Maze Case Study