Can You Find the Maze Design Mistake ? Part 2

I love making weaving mazes, but they present some challenges for the maze designer in addition to the solver. So much that I made a full post of my mistakes to test your observation skills. Turns out, there are now enough mistakes for a Part 2 !!! Not sure if that should get any exclamation points, but here we are.

If you want to try making this type of maze yourself you can read how I make a Weaving Maze, or the revised, improved weaving maze option. And if you think you would enjoy real, correct weaving mazes to solve like the ones below you can check out multiple books on Amazon. Almost all of these mistakes were part of the editing process and come from the books.

Let’s test your observation skills !

Here are the 2 main types of mistakes I made. A path that ends under another, or one that never comes out from under another.

Examples of mistakes you might find.

Let’s get started with our first maze which looks like a window. I like the design of the weaving maze but, it wouldn’t be here if there wasn’t a problem in the design. Can you find it ? When you are ready, scroll down to get the answer !

Observation Maze #1

Observation Maze #1 Answer.

For me, that was a tough one to find the mistake. If you found the design mistake, great job ! Let’s look at maze #2 and see how you do.

Maze #2 is the most popular shape I use. The shape is great for using for weaving mazes, but again I made a design mistake. Can you find it ? When you are ready, scroll down to get the answer !

Observation Maze #2

Observation Maze #2 Answer.

And now Maze #3. Can you find the design issue with this square wheel weaving maze ?

Observation Maze #3

Observation Maze #3 Answer.

Another path to nowhere…I found that one quickly. maybe because it was in a corner.

Maze #4 is a version of my favorite shape, just with a different start/goal configuration than normal. Can you find the error ? You know what to do.

Observation Maze #4

Observation Maze #4 Answer.

That was a tough one for me. I know the purpose of this post is to test your observation skills, but I just want to mention that this type of maze is really fun to solve (and design IMO). I made a poster size (11x17) weaving maze of a skull that people seem to like. I have a book of these on Amazon also. Try to solve a few of these - just don’t dead end at my mistakes !!

Back to the observation game. How about this fun shape?

Observation Maze #5

Observation Maze #5 Answer

I wish we were done, but I made a lot of mistakes, I’m just glad I caught them and could make them into something interesting (assuming so if you are still here!)

Let’s try this one, an apple weaving maze

Observation Maze #6

Observation Maze #6 Answer

Still more unfortunately.. Try this cloudlike shape. I am not sure what made me design a maze in this shape or maybe more accurately non-shape, but here we are.

Observation Maze #7

Observation Maze #7 Answer

And that does it. My mistakes became a game. I’d like to say this is the last time we do this, but I know it is not ! How did you do ? Would you be interested in more content like this ?

Did you try solving any mazes ? If you like this kind of maze check out these sections:

Weaving Mazes for Kids - Includes 10 mazes on the site with a download for a longer book of 23 mazes.

Can You Find the Maze Design Mistake ?

One of my favorite types of mazes to make is the Weaving Maze. I think the construction helps make relatively small mazes much more complicated to solve. It is certainly difficult to “eye solve” a weaving maze by quickly eliminating possible paths that have a dead end near the intersection you are at. But, it also presents some challenges for the maze maker and that’s what we talk about today.

When I wrote my How To Make A Maze blog post to show how I make a Weaving Maze, it became the only maze that got a second post with a revised, improved option. I was making so many of them (enough for multiple books on Amazon) that I came up with a new way to create them with a more consistent look. What I still have trouble with is breaking a key rule when creating the maze, and that is missing a path and letting it dead end under another path. How does it happen ? Well, during the construction there are many balls in the air (possible paths) so to speak. To make the paths weave there need to be multiple paths to cross over. Creating the maze can look a bit like chaos and mistakes get made. I have let multiple slip through the cracks during editing. Let’s see if you can find the mistakes and test your observation skills !

Each of these came from one of these Amazon books during the editing process:

Here are the 2 main types of mistakes I made:

Examples of mistakes you might find.

You’ll also notice that weaving mazes allow you to make fun shapes ! Can you see what the maze is supposed to be shaped like ?

Let’s get started with our first maze. When you are ready, scroll down to get the answer !

Observation Maze #1

Observation Maze #1 Answer.

I left a path under another and didn’t end it properly. Let’s try your luck another with this clover maze.

Observation Maze #2

Observation Maze #2 Answer.

Same mistake, new spot. Can you be money and solve the next one ?

Observation Maze #3

Observation Maze #3 Answer.

Another path to nowhere…How this next one ?

Observation Maze #4

Observation Maze #4 Answer.

Did you find the mistake hidden in the clouds ?

Observation Maze #5

Observation Maze #5 Answer

Did you reach home plate and find that one ? Did you find the almost mistake in the upper middle right ? The path only slightly comes out the other side. Let’s try a Spade Maze.

Observation Maze #6

Observation Maze #6 Answer

A dreaded double mistake ! I was looking to link those up I bet…probably ? How about this stop sign ?

Observation Maze #7

Observation Maze #7 Answer

How are you doing ? Eyes getting buggy ? Last one is the sailboat.

Observation Maze #8

Observation Maze #8 Answer

And that does it. My mistakes became a game. I’d like to say this is the last time we do this, but I know it is not, because I just made a part 2 !

Did you try solving any mazes ? If you like this kind of maze check out these sections:

Weaving Mazes for Kids - Includes 10 mazes on the site with a download for a longer book of 23 mazes.

Case Study #11 - Making Mazes with Shadows

If you are interested in maze design you have come to the right place. I have a series of case studies where I take mazes and try to improve them. Today I want to focus on a specific aspect that I think is rare for maze makers to use but seems to really improve how a maze looks, Shadows.

This topic has been seen in previous case studies (#1,#8,#9,#10) because once I started using shadows in my mazes, I found it hard to not use them because I think they make mazes look so much more realistic. In fact, when I look at mazes from a few years ago, I want to improve most of them. That is the advantage of being a digital maze artist - I can be like George Lucas with Star Wars and just keep tweaking things I don’t like from the past.

Why Shadows Make Mazes Better

I will be showing 2 options for a variety of my favorite mazes, one without shadows and one with shadows. In every case the shadows make the illustration/maze more interesting, typically by giving it more perceived depth on the page. I have set-up the galleries to transition between the 2 options for easy comparison !

Maze #1 - Museo Soumaya Maze

For this example I had to create a new version previously unseen, in color, but no shadows. The shadows give the building more shape !

Maze #2 - Heydar Aliyev Center
With such an interesting shape, this is much better with shadows !

Maze #3 - Templo de Sangre de Cristo Maze
Not as drastic a change as the mazes above, but still an improvement, especially in the nooks of the church.

Maze #4 - Lotus Temple Maze
I thought this wonderful building would make a nice maze, but when I finished it it seemed a bit bland. The shadows really help the petals of the building stand out and also show the doorway overhangs better.

There are many more examples of my use of shadows on the site. I encourage you to give it a try.

Here are previous case studies on maze making:

Case Study#1 - How to Improve a Bad Maze - Tiki Totem Maze

Case Study#2 - How to Improve a Bad Maze - Danzante Conchero Chichimeca Maze

Case Study#3 - How to Improve a Bad Maze - Red Rocks Amphitheatre Maze

Case Study#4 - How to Improve a Bad Maze - The Hollywood Sign

Case Study #5 - How to Improve a Bad Maze - Severance Hall

Case Study#6 - How to Improve a Maze - Uxmal

Case Study#7 - How to Improve a Bad Maze - Ship

Case Study#8 - Improving Previous Mazes

Case Study#9 - Improving a Maze - Taj Mahal

Case Study#10 - Improving a Maze - Templo de Sangre de Cristo

Exploring Different Ways to Solve a Maze

So you want to solve a maze and could use some extra help. Or, more likely you are writing a computer program and want to know what options you have to solve a maze. I will take you through 8 popular maze solving methods and then discuss some of the the other most common everyday ways of solving mazes people use and give you some cheat codes. Here is what you can expect:

8 MAZE SOLVING METHODS

• 4 METHODS FOR PHYSICAL MAZES SOLVED FROM THE INSIDE

• 4 METHODS FOR MAZES VIEWED FROM ABOVE

5 COMMON MAZE SOLVING OPTIONS

2 CHEAT CODES TO SOLVE MAZES

2 INTERESTING MAZE SOLUTIONS

8 MAZE SOLVING METHODS

Let’s start with 4 methods used for physical mazes, like a hedge or corn maze, where you do not know what the maze looks like, i.e. you are a traveler in a maze looking to find the exit or goal.

• Random Mouse Method - Very basic way to solve a maze and probably the way you typically do it. Starting walking, and randomly pick a direction at each intersection you reach. Nothing fancy, and not efficient, but works eventually. Also works for regular mazes you see from above - and probably how you solve most puzzle mazes.

• Wall Follower Method - Well known way to solve a maze where you follow a wall consistently through a maze until you solve it. It can be a left handed or a right handed method, but once you choose your side you must stick with it ! To use this the maze must be simply connected, meaning it has no loops and all walls are attached to the outer walls of the maze.

• Pledge Algorithm Method - A wall following method that can deal with disjointed walls. It involves counting turns you make (clockwise turn is positive, counter-clockwise turn is negative) and making decisions based on getting the number back to zero. Here are rules to follow to use it in practice:

  • Start at the entrance of the maze.

  • Move forward until a wall is encountered.

  • Follow the wall on the right-hand side until you reach the exit.

  • If you encounter a disjoint wall, you should turn left and continue following the wall on its right-hand side. How do you know you have a disjointed wall ? You arrive back at the same spot in a disjointed wall (a loop).

  • If you return to the starting point without finding the exit, turn around and follow the wall on its left-hand side until it reaches a new path. Then, it should follow the wall on its right-hand side again.

  • Repeat steps 3-5 until you reach the exit.

• Trémaux's Algorithm - Uses a set of rules to solve a maze:

  • If you visit a junction with new paths, pick one at random.

  • Cross it out as you explore.

  • If you reach a dead end, retrace your steps to the last junction with unexplored paths and choose another path.

  • If you reach a junction with all paths already explored, retrace your steps to the last junction with unexplored paths and choose another path.

The following 4 methods of solving a maze are useful for typical puzzle mazes where you can see the complete maze from above:

• Reverse Solve (Dead-end filling) - In this method you start at a known dead end and color in the pathway until you reach a junction. Eventually this process leads to a maze completely filled in expect for the correct pathway ! I like to use this for hidden message mazes !

• Recursive algorithm - Math, coding. That is where this algorithm comes in. It uses X and Y values to check each spot inside a maze and determine if the space has been visited yet or not. It marks incorrect solutions as it goes and if it finds the correct pathway it marks in the X/Y values (pathway) of how it got there.

• Maze-routing algorithm - Commonly used in chip design but can be used to solve a maze also. It is not something a person would use unless they coded it into a program. It works by finding the distant between any 2 points in the maze, blah, blah, blah, look you solved the maze !

• Shortest Path Algorithms - A collection of many algorithms which all attempt to do the same thing - find the shortest path between 2 points - like let’s say the start and the goal ! While the details of this set of algorithms may not be for the average person to use to solve a maze, be glad it is used whenever you need directions between 2 points (Google Maps !, etc.)

Now let’s look more specifically at real world examples and the methods most people actually use for puzzle mazes. What method do you use to solve drawn mazes ?

5 COMMON MAZE SOLVING OPTIONS

• With a writing utensil - probably the most common way to solve a drawn maze. You have a maze printed out or in a book in front of you and you grab a pen or pencil and solve using it. Makes the maze a one time use unless you have an eraser that does a good job and doesn’t harm the paper too much

• With your finger - you use your finger as a guide to work your way through the maze and solve it. This method allows multiple people to solve the same maze

• With your eyes - my personal most common maze solving method. Works for most maze types, although you need to add in a more comprehensive method for any spiral maze.

• Reverse fill with a writing utensil - a method I used to use because I liked the way it looked. You use a pen / pencil and start at dead ends, filling each in until you reach a new branch. Eventually this leaves only the correct path NOT filled in, creating a reverse solve !

• Of course online puzzles and mazes will use a combination of arrow keys or your mouse to solve a maze.

2 CHEAT CODES TO SOLVE MAZES

• Solve it in Reverse - if a maze is giving you trouble, try solving it in reverse. Most mazes are mush easier this way since the maker of the maze likely designed it specifically to be solved in the Start to Goal direction. Of course some maze designers take this method into account and design difficulty in both directions ! These are called Dual entrance/exit mazes and you can learn how to make on and see examples of them here.

• Middle Marking - This is what I call it. Before starting the maze pick a central spot in the maze and follow it until you reach a dead end. Color out that dead end. Choose the spot directly to the right of that spot and do the same. Repeat. The goal is to block out one side of the maze as unpassable by cutting it in half. Can also be done north/south. Here is an example where I repeated this 5 times (using 5 different shades of grey) and cut off the bottom half of the maze as a possibility. If I wanted to continue using this method I would start at the northern border and work my way down until I found the passable pathway !

Those are 15 ways to solve a maze. Now let’s look at some fun things to think about as a maze designer !

INTERESTING MAZE SOLUTIONS

If you like to design mazes I want to show you 2 fun ways to create maze solutions. Each can be used to add some fun to solving mazes.

Hidden Message Mazes - A maze that looks normal, but the solution has a message for the solver.

Here are 2 blog posts where I show you how to make your own (2 different types):

How to Make A Hidden Message Maze

How to Make a Hidden Message Trail Maze

And of course I made some templates (4 different) to help you make “mazed” letters if you are interested in creating your own mazes:

Hidden Message Maze Letter Design templates

Here is an example of a hidden message maze. See if you can figure out what it says before scrolling down:

Did you get it ? If you enjoy that challenge, check out Hidden Message Challenge - Part 1, or if you want to try some in Spanish: Desafío Laberinto de mensajes ocultos. You can also do this in regular mazes. like my maze of Monte Alban in Mexico.

Creative Maze Solutions

I find it hard to define this even though I have a great example of it.

My maze of the Museo Soumaya. Well, because I gave it a creative solution and that solution is even more hidden than a typical maze I make. I dare say it is completely hidden ! Let’s look at the maze. Do you see the answer ? You don’t.

To download the maze and solve it yourself check out the Museo Soumaya page here. Or just watch the solution on my YouTube channel below. When do you figure out the surprise ?

Happy