How to Make an Axonometric Maze

In a series of posts I will show you how to make a maze in a wide variety of design constructions. The 6th example with look at an Axonometric maze construction. Let’s define what I mean, then get into the example. Every how-to will use a simple square so you can compare the differences between each maze construction type. I will also show a consolidated secondary how-to using an irregular shape (the state of Ohio).

Here is an outline for this blog post with jump links if you want to skip ahead to a section.

AXONOMETRIC GRID MAZE DEFINITION

THE 5 RULES OF MAZE DESIGN

HOW TO MAKE AN AXONOMETRIC MAZE

HOW TO MAKE AN AXONOMETRIC GRID MAZE - abbreviated writing & using a different shape

MORE EXAMPLES OF AXONOMETRIC MAZES

AXONOMETRIC MAZE TEMPLATE

MAKING OF AN AXONOMETRIC MAZE VIDEO

AXONOMETRIC GRID MAZE DEFINITION:

Axonometric Grid Maze - This is a maze made using an axonometric grid. Typically these grids are used to draw 3 dimensional representations of objects like a cube. But, for maze making this just means drawing walls at the angle of the axonometric grid.

THE 5 RULES OF MAZE DESIGN:

These 5 rules apply to any maze you make so we start with them !

1. Always keep an open pathway for the solution

While drawing a maze you will need to juggle multiple open pathways each of which could become the solution. One of them will become the solution. Keep track of it. This is especially important if you are designing pathways in both directions (from the start and from the goal).

2. Clearly mark the start and goal, or the objective of the maze

A maze should have a start and a goal that you can assess just by glancing at it. There are many ways to start and end a maze I review in this blog post: Options for Starting and Ending a Maze

3. Ensure the difficulty matches the intended audience

Most people want to solve a puzzle/maze that is just slightly below or slightly above their skill level. Many things help determine the difficulty of a maze. Size, number of branches, the length of dead ends, the number of choices, the complexity of the rules (if the maze has them).

4. Ensure your maze has a solution

When your maze is complete, solve it to determine the difficulty level and to ensure it is a real, solvable maze. Depending on the complexity of the maze you may want to do this right away or wait so you can properly assess the difficulty.

5. Explain anything that needs explaining

Some mazes have rules or conditions. Explain them with directions. If it isn't obvious, make it so.

How to Make an Axonometric Maze

Step 1 - Determine your grid shape

When making a regular grid maze you are choosing the size of the grid boxes you will use. So a 20x20 grid is larger than a 10x10 grid. When choosing an axonometric grid you may choose the size, but more importantly is choosing the angles of the grid you will be using see the 3 examples below. The first grid uses angles of 20 degrees, the second 30 degrees, and the last 45 degrees (making essentially regular grids tilted at a 45 degree angle). My program defaults to 30 x 30 unless I change it and seems to work well for almost everything.

20 x 20  Axonometric Grid

20 x 20 Grid

30 x 30  Axonometric Grid

30 x 30 Grid

45 x 45  Axonometric grid

45 x 45 grid

Step 2 - 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.

Step 2.5 - Choose the Start and Goal

For the below example I used START and GOAL written in the maze, but I added them later. Here is the outline shown on the grid:

How to Make a Axonometric Maze step 1

And because this is a cube shape I added the internal walls with gaps for the maze to go pass through:

ow to Make a Axonometric Maze step 2

Step 3 - Start Drawing the Walls

Using the axonometric grid pattern, begin drawing the maze walls starting at the entrance of the maze. Be careful to never close all open paths so the maze can be solved. As you make the maze decide how difficult you want to make it.

ow to Make a Axonometric Maze step 3

Step 4 - Complete the Maze

Draw the final walls and draw the exit. You have completed the drawing of an Axonometric maze !

I added an additional step to delete the grids to see the final maze.

How to Make a Axonometric Maze no grids

Step 5 (Optional) - Draw the Solution

While the correct pathway is fresh in your mind, draw the solution to the maze. This is especially important with more complex mazes. It can also be a check to make sure your maze has a solution and helps you determine how difficult it is.

How to Make a Axonometric Maze solution

HOW TO MAKE AN AXONOMETRIC GRID MAZE - abbreviated writing & using a different shape

Step 1 - Draw the Outline - Ohio in this example

Step 1.5 - Choose the Start and Goal

Step 2 - Determine your grid shape (not shown here - see above)

Step 3 - Start Drawing the Walls

Step 4 - Keep Drawing Walls

Step 5 - Complete the Maze

Step 6 (Optional) - Draw the Solution

This is an example of a maze that uses the axonometric grid, but it is forced…ideally you use it on mazes where drawing a 3d shape on paper is important. It is usable but not ideal for Ohio,

MORE EXAMPLES OF AXONOMETRIC MAZES:

The Stairs maze naturally works as it helps to give the maze dimension. Notice how the direction of the walls is consistent with the plane of the object to help give it the dimensional look. The Lemon Meringue Pie maze uses the construction to draw the maze at the proper angle to the picture. And of course, where the construction really shines is on the Cube Maze !

Stairs Maze

Stairs Maze

Lemon Meringue Pie Maze

Lemon Meringue Pie Maze

Cube Maze

Cube Maze

A very important design note not covered in the step by step above is to follow the direction of the object when making your pathways. This will give your object dimension and make for a better looking maze. Both of the below cubes were made using an Axo grid, but the one on the left follows the direction and flow of the object while the one on the right does not. Personally I think the example on the left is a much better maze. Imagine the Steps maze above if it did not use the objects flow to make the pathways.

Cube mazes with 2 different wall examples
How to Make a Axonometric Maze flow example.

Axonometric grids also serve as the base for geometric mazes that aren’t square or rectangular, like this example of a Hexagon maze. However, I do not consider this a pure axonometric maze, but instead an Escape Maze !

Hexagonal escape maze

And sometimes the shape of the item lends itself to grid that is tilted at an angle. I really like this Kazoo Maze. How many kazoo mazes have you seen before ?

Kazoo Maze

AXONOMETRIC MAZE TEMPLATE

This free downloadable template will help you make your own version.

Create a Maze template Axonometric

Making of an Axonometric Maze Video

Watch this quick video to get a sense of how an Axonometric Cube maze is made.

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 Arrow Maze

In a series of posts I will show you how to make a maze in a wide variety of design constructions. For the fifth example we will look at the arrow maze construction. It is one of the most enjoyable maze constructions to make. Every how-to will use a simple square so you can compare the differences between each maze construction type. I will also show a consolidated secondary how-to using an irregular shape (the state of Ohio).

Here is an outline for this blog post with jump links if you want to skip ahead to a section.

ARROW MAZE DEFINITION

THE 5 RULES OF MAZE DESIGN

HOW TO MAKE AN ARROW MAZE

HOW TO MAKE AN ARROW MAZE - abbreviated writing & using a different shape

ADDITIONAL ARROW MAZE EXAMPLES

6 ADDITIONAL ARROW MAZE MOVEMENT OPTIONS

THE MASTERCLASS

ARROW MAZE BOOKS

MAKING AN ARROW MAZE VIDEO


ARROW MAZE DEFINITION

Arrow Maze - A maze that involves following arrows in the direction shown with a few decisions along the way to create the maze solving aspect. Standard movement is one grid at a time (vs an Slide Arrow Maze that allows multiple grids per move). A well designed arrow maze has no dead ends, but rather loops that return you to an earlier part of the maze.


THE 5 RULES OF MAZE DESIGN:

These 5 rules apply to any maze you make so we start with them !

1. Always keep an open pathway for the solution

While drawing a maze you will need to juggle multiple open pathways each of which could become the solution. One of them will become the solution. Keep track of it. This is especially important if you are designing pathways in both directions (from the start and from the goal).

2. Clearly mark the start and goal, or the objective of the maze

A maze should have a start and a goal that you can assess just by glancing at it. There are many ways to start and end a maze I review in this blog post: Options for Starting and Ending a Maze

3. Ensure the difficulty matches the intended audience

Most people want to solve a puzzle/maze that is just slightly below or slightly above their skill level. Many things help determine the difficulty of a maze. Size, number of branches, the length of dead ends, the number of choices, the complexity of the rules (if the maze has them).

4. Ensure your maze has a solution

When your maze is complete, solve it to determine the difficulty level and to ensure it is a real, solvable maze. Depending on the complexity of the maze you may want to do this right away or wait so you can properly assess the difficulty.

5. Explain anything that needs explaining

Some mazes have rules or conditions. Explain them with directions. If it isn't obvious, make it so. This is extremely important with an Arrow Maze !

HOW TO MAKE AN ARROW 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. Arrow mazes are made of grids, so any configuration or shape you can make from grids would be suitable for an arrow maze.

  • Step 1.5 - Choose the Start and Goal

I use START and GOAL written in the grid typically. They cab be anywhere as long as they are no touching each other

  • Step 2 - Draw the Grid Design

Draw a grid design to fill the outline with blocks that will contain the arrows. I made an O.

How to Make an Arrow Maze Part 1
  • Step 3 - Draw the Arrows off to the side

Unique for this maze is that prep-work will help with the mazes construction. An arrow maze can be moved thru in 8 main directions (N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NW). I like to create an arrow and then rotate the arrow to the needed directions to make the construction of the maze more efficient. I also make one “choice” arrow with multiple directions that I can rotate as needed. For advanced Arrow mazes there are a few other options I will show in my other examples section, but these basic arrows are a good start.

3.2 Arrow - Make arrows needed.png
  • Step 4 - Start Filling in Arrows

Beginning from the starting block, add arrows to create pathways away from the block. Any block touching the starting block can be a first move. Arrows that face the starting block will return you back immediately. While constructing an Arrow maze you should have at least one path back to the starting block for false paths. Unlike most mazes, an Arrow path has no dead ends (ideally), only loops to earlier parts of the maze.

How to Make an Arrow Maze Part 4

Notice how I created false paths that bring you back to earlier parts of the maze. I find that return loops are much more enjoyable than dead ends when solving a maze.

How to Make an Arrow Maze Part 4.5
  • Step 5 - Complete the Arrow Maze

To complete an Arrow maze you fill in each block with an arrow. Make sure to never create a dead end or an infinite loop. In this way an Arrow maze can be solved in multiple ways (some loops return to their initial mistake), but there is always a best solution. There are also “short” loops that are less punishing to the solver if they make a wrong choice.

How to Make an Arrow Maze Part 5
  • Step 6 (Optional) - Make the Solution

Highlight the solution for the solver that is the quickest path to the goal. For Arrow mazes I like to solve these after a few days to check how enjoyable they are. I did not make this one very complicated ! I used both a drawn line and black vs grey to highlight the correct pathway.

How to Make an Arrow Maze Part 6 - solution
  • Step 7 (Optional) - Give it Depth

I have added a 3d element to almost every Arrow maze I have made the last few years. It gives them shape and they look more interesting. Add one if you want !

How to Make an Arrow Maze Part 7

HOW TO MAKE AN ARROW MAZE - abbreviated writing & using a different shape

Here is the original step by step maze done in the shape of Ohio. Use the next controls to watch the maze get made, then see the solution.

Step 1 - Draw the Outline - Ohio for this example

Step 2 - Draw the Grid Design

Step 3 - Draw the Arrows off to the side - If this is your first Arrow Maze. These are the most basic arrows.

Step 4 - Start Filling in Arrows

Step 5 - Complete the Arrow Maze - I added Start and Goal labels here also.

Step 6 (Optional) - Make the Solution - I used red, but a line tracing the arrows is also helpful IMO.

What this maze lacks is directions ! Could the average person solve this without them ?

ADDITIONAL ARROW MAZE EXAMPLES

Here are a few additional examples of Arrow mazes in more traditional forms. The first is in a the most common square grid form. I included this example because it was one of my first formats which included directions and the use of colors for the Start and Goal.

9x9 Arrow Maze

And these are two examples of Arrow mazes in different shaped grids. Any grid shape could work if it has enough options for the solver to be challenged. The maze on the left also includes a decision arrow at 45 degrees.

Arrow Maze example - odd shape
Arrow Maze example in crossed T shape

While making an Arrow Maze can be pretty basic from a movement perspective, there are many options to make it more interesting. Let’s review some the the most common ones I use to make things more challenging.

6 ADDITIONAL ARROW MAZE MOVEMENT OPTIONS

  1. The ALL WAYS ARROW allows anyone to land on it to leave the grid in ANY direction. It looks like a star.

  2. The DOUBLE MOVE ARROW allows you to jump over grids or spaces in the maze. It works well to get out of tight areas and from a design perspective makes the maze more difficult to solve.

  3. RETURN TO START is a grid that you do not want to land on.

  4. START / GOAL is my favorite grid type. Instead of telling the solver where the START and the GOAL is you only show them where the 2 possible are. It is the solvers job to find which is which by finding a path between each START/GOAL grid.

  5. The SLIDE ARROW allows you to move to any arrow the Slide Arrow is pointing at.

  6. WARP GRIDS allow the solver to jump across the maze between each Warp.

Check out my rule movement page from an upcoming book, along with a few examples that showcase the new movements. They make for much harder mazes, and are much more interesting to solve. For all of these mazes I dropped the color start/goal and went with a more traditional and intuitive use of the words “Start” and “Goal”.

How to solve an Arrow Maze Rules
Arrow Maze #80 - Invader Shape

Example of moves 1,2,3,6

Arrow Maze #96
5x5 Slide Arrow Maze example

Slide Arrow Maze

There is also an option to use ONLY Slide Arrows, creating a Slide Arrow Maze. These can be made extremely difficult to solve. Since they are both Arrow Mazes, here is a comparison of the 2 types of Arrow Mazes and their rules for solving:

List Of Arrow Maze solving rules

THE MASTERCLASS

I did the following 14 Part series where I dive into Arrow mazes in detail. It is long and complete.

The Arrow Mazes Design Masterclass: 14 parts, 50 examples

This is one of the most comprehensive blog posts on any subject on the website.

I have 4 Arrow Maze Books AVAILABLE ON AMAZON

Here an overview of the first book:

THE ARROW MAZE BOOK VOLUME 1: AVAILABLE IN 4 LANGUAGES IN BOTH PRINT AND KINDLE EDITIONS

  • Part puzzle, part maze, all fun ! Enjoy 100 Arrow Mazes that get more challenging as you move forward. Arrow Mazes don't have walls or dead ends but that doesn't mean you won't get lost ! Perfect for both maze lovers and puzzle solvers. Later puzzles get new solving rules to keep the challenge fresh.

    • Features large size of 8.5 x 11 (Print edition)

    • 100 Arrow Mazes with solutions

    • Unlike most maze books, no pencil is needed - perfect for solving on a Kindle !

    • See Maze 49 below for an example.

Arrow Maze #49

A FREE downloadable Arrow Maze book to try

In January 2020 my daily mazes consisted of Arrow Mazes I made using my original design. This book does NOT include any of the new movements which make the mazes more fun and challenging but it is a nice introduction to Arrow Mazes. As the month went on the mazes got larger. This book collects all of the mazes from that month. (If you are wondering Volumes 1 & 2 were retired).

The Arrow Maze Book - Volume 3 Cover

THE ARROW MAZE BOOK - VOLUME 3

31 pages, 32 mazes including the cover

File Size: 715 KB

Features each daily maze from January 2020. Arrow mazes have no dead ends which means they should be easy…right ? Each Arrow maze get progressively harder.


MAKING AN ARROW MAZE VIDEO

Take 2 minutes to watch an Arrow Maze being made. This shows the sped up process I described above.

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.

Maze Comic Book Cover #137 - Nevermore

Issue #137 in my comic book cover collection features the maze of a Raven and is titled Nevermore. I used a new font for the title that fit the feeling better than what I use typically. I also made the O from a football. The background was made using AI. I like to think this maze is the sibling of the Oriole Maze from issue #135.

My comic book cover mazes are archived by year:

Comic Book Cover Mazes - Year 1 (Issues #1 - 53)

Comic Book Cover Mazes - Year 2 (Issues# 54 -105)

Comic Book Cover Mazes - Year 3 (Issues #106 - )

Raven Maze Comic Book.