In a series of posts I will show you how to make a maze in a wide variety of design constructions. The 24th example will look at the Unsolvable Maze construction. It is one of the most enjoyable maze constructions to make. Let’s define what I mean by Unsolvable Maze, 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.
Here is an outline for this blog post with jump links if you want to skip ahead to a section:
HOW TO MAKE AN UNSOLVABLE MAZE - Option 1: No Solution
HOW TO MAKE AN UNSOLVABLE MAZE - Option 2: Extreme Difficulty
12 DESIGN DECISIONS THAT MAKE A MAZE DIFFICULT TO SOLVE
UNSOLVABLE MAZE DEFINITION:
Unsolvable Maze - A maze that doesn’t have a solution.
UNSOLVABLE MAZE (ALTERNATIVE definition) A maze so difficult that the solver gives up rather than continue solving it. A MAZE THAT IS VIRTUALLY UNSOLVABLE.
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.
There are 2 completely different options to create an unsolvable maze;
Option 1 - Create a maze with no solution, and Option 2 - Make a maze with extreme difficulty. Let’s review the steps for making each type of maze.
HOW TO MAKE AN UNSOLVABLE MAZE - Option 1: No Solution
Step 1 - Choose Your Maze Construction
This step-by-step will be much different than previous “How to Makes”. An unsolvable maze can come in ANY maze construction. So determine which construction you prefer.
Step 2 - Follow the Step by Step Instructions
Step 3 - Close off any Solutions
And there it is. When you make the maze do not leave any solution possible. This is mean. But maybe that is why you are here. To make this even more difficult close up a point in the middle of the maze (not at the end). If you close all possible solutions pathways near the exit, a backward solver will easily figure this out. I assume a designer of this would want to be at their most terrible. If one of these unsolvable mazes makes it past the editor you’ll find these go viral online.
Below is an additional example. Unless this is for April Fool’s Day, or you made a mistake, creating a maze like this is not advisable.
Below I will discuss how to make an Arrow Maze that is very difficult. But there is also the option to create an Arrow Maze with dead ends (unlike other maze types, a properly designed Arrow Maze does not have any). In this first example there is NO solution and if you try to solve it you will eventually find yourself in an everlasting loop ! Try it for yourself.
HOW TO MAKE AN UNSOLVABLE MAZE - Option 2: Extreme Difficulty
This second option is a variation on the above instructions with a variation only in step #3.
Step 1 (same as above) - Choose Your Maze Construction
This step by step will be much different that previous “How to Makes”. An unsolvable maze can come in ANY maze construction. So determine which construction you prefer.
Step 2 (same as above) - Follow the Step by Step Instructions
Step 3 - Make it REALLY difficult to solve
Make a maze that is extremely difficult to solve using the following 12 things in your toolbox:
12 Designs Decisions That Make a Maze Difficult to Solve:
Make it very large because the larger the maze the more difficult it can become. The more dead ends. The more pathways to keep track of. Just more.
Make a very high number of intersections. The more choices the solver has to make, the more often they will make a wrong turn. Simple math.
Have a main intersection (or multiple) that has many branches to choose from in one spot, with only 1 being correct. Loop a few of the branches back to the same location so the solver continually visits that same location and must keep track of what branches have already been tried. If an intersection has 2 options and you took the wrong one last time the next decision is easy. But what if the intersection has 8 choices ? Which did you already take ?
Make the dead end pathways very long. When you create a dead end, don’t make it obvious just after the choice is made. Make the dead end take a long time to be discovered.
Make many branches off of the dead ends pathways. So you take a long dead end pathway but do not discover it for a long time so you backtrack to your last intersection and take the other branch and it is a dead end also. So you backtrack again to the previous intersection and take the other direction and it is a dead end also ! etc.
Include a few looping dead ends. What do I mean by this ? Well, have an intersection that breaks off into two directions (again, preferably these are long pathways), which both lead back to the exact same spot in the maze. The more looping pathways, the more difficult the maze to solve. It may make the maze less frustrating depending on the temperament of the solver. Would you rather hit a dead end, or not hit a dead end and return to where you started ? Looping pathways and islands also can defeat some maze solving algorithms. like the Wall-Follower Algorithm and the Dead-End Filling Algorithm while hampering others.
Consider using weaving pathways or curved pathways. These paths go under and over one another and make seeing dead ends “early” much more difficult. Weaving Mazes and Pipes Mazes both use this construction method. Much like weaving pathways work to conceal where a pathway leads, curved pathways are harder to predict than mazes made in a grid-like pattern. Varied pathway shapes can obstruct sightlines and make a maze more difficult.
If you are making a specialty maze, give the solver an exponential number of possible moves they can make (see the Slide Arrow Maze example below). An intersection with 4 choices is more difficult to keep track of than an intersection with only 2.
Design the maze in TWO directions. This prevents a person from backtracking to solve a maze from the goal to the start.
Add Rules. The more you need to think when solving a maze, the harder it becomes. For example: Puzzle Mazes have rules of movement to follow based on the rules of the maze. Conditional mazes make the order you move down pathways important. Left turn only mazes speak for themselves in their title. One way pathways limit the solvers movements down pathways.
Add enticing dead ends pathways that travel towards the goal only to track away from it and disappoint the solver who felt they were so close to solving the maze. I call these “almost” pathways. When a solver is following them everything feels great…until it doesn’t.
Consider a time limit. Time pressure is very psychological. Taking a test with a time limit is a much different experience than taking one without one.
I do NOT suggest using this method to make a maze unsolvable:
Make the pathways very small or in poor colors (because both are difficult to see), with the need to strain your eyes to solve it. Don’t make a maze designed to be difficult to follow/see, make a maze design that is difficult to SOLVE because it is a complicated puzzle.
EXAMPLES OF VERY DIFFICULT MAZES
The first example is a Slide Arrow Maze. In this type of maze you start at the red arrow and you may move to any block that it is pointing to (but no jumping gaps). So your first move can be to either of the two blocks below it. If you pick the first block below you have 3 subsequent choices. If you pick the second possible arrow you will then have 8 possible next moves. Why this maze is so difficult is that there is only one correct solution, so with so many choices each move you are bound to make many mistakes and get stuck ! Try it. I WANT the solver to get frustrated.
And this second example I did for a project. This is a regular Arrow Maze, but it is also the Largest Arrow Maze in the world (probably). This is difficult because of its sheer size. I gave a few checkpoints along the way (the blocks with the black background). It also includes hundreds of loops. I think it is a fun maze, but I think many people will get frustrated and stop. If you do try to solve this maze, time yourself and send me a note on how long it took you ! This maze is one of The 5 Hardest Mazes on this Website.
Here are the solving rules if you have never done an Arrow Maze:
WHERE TO FIND FREE HARD MAZES ON THIS SITE
I have created a section of Hard Mazes on the site where I add a new maze each Saturday. I included a variety of maze types to make it more interesting. As mentioned above I wrote about The 5 Hardest Mazes on this Website previously. I also have made a few “largest” mazes like the Arrow Maze above you may find interesting:
The Largest Pipe Maze in the World
The Largest (Drawn) Laser Maze in the World
The Largest Mobile Maze in the World
Many of the maze art mazes you will find on the home page are also difficult to solve - browse around and enjoy !
Good Luck designing an unsolvable maze !