Back to the arcade
45-second rounds · 3 min read
Play Number MazeWhat is Number Maze?
Follow a winding trail of consecutive numbers through a compact grid. You begin on square 1 and must continue to 2, then 3, and so on. Unlike choosing globally sorted numbers from an ordinary rack, this trail occupies adjacent grid cells: its bends and direction changes are the main visual challenge.
Rules and controls
- The current position and next required number are highlighted. Tap the square showing that next number; it touches your current square along an edge. Each correct forward move earns one objective and advances your position. Selecting any other square records a mistake and keeps you where you are. Reaching the final number completes the trail and starts another board after a transition.
- Controls respond only during active play. The countdown and the brief change between boards are pauses, not opportunities to submit the next answer early. Touch controls and native Tab/Enter button activation follow the same replay rules.
Use the controls displayed above the playfield. Touch buttons and keyboard shortcuts are shown before the round begins.
Scoring and rewards
The game scoreboard gives 100 for each correct ordered maze moves objective and subtracts 25 for a recorded mistake, with a minimum displayed score of zero. Only new, accepted objectives count; waiting or repeating completed work does not create achievements.
Reward points use verified performance against this game’s reference pace rather than its raw scoreboard. The reference is: Inspect the route and select one adjacent numbered square every 350 milliseconds. Full reference performance corresponds to 40 base reward points and 60 XP per minute; the account’s level bonus is applied separately.
Points and XP scale with objective performance, precision, and round length. At full reward performance, a 45-second round earns up to 30 base points and 45 XP. Each level gained adds a 0.1% point bonus. Guest practice has no reward balance.
For eligible rewarded rounds, points remain pending until the sponsored claim’s 12 seconds of focused time and fresh hCaptcha are complete. No ad click or purchase is required.
How difficulty changes
The early maze is three-by-three, ending at 9. Higher difficulty expands to four-by-four and ends at 16. Boards may be rotated, so the starting corner and first direction vary. Their numeric order remains a complete legal trail. Moving backward or repeatedly selecting a previously visited square never earns another forward objective.
Difficulty increases after every three starts of this game during a UTC day, up to level 10, and resets at 00:00 UTC. Your player level and its point bonus are separate from the game’s daily difficulty.
Strategy
Plan the next move
Read a few steps ahead without clicking them yet. Spotting the next turn helps keep your eyes from making a broad search after every single move. Maintain the exact sequence rather than following an attractive straight line.
Check before committing
Use the current-position marker as an anchor. When the trail doubles back along a neighboring row, numbers can sit very close together; checking both adjacency and the next number prevents an easy off-by-one selection.
A worked example
- A small board begins with 1, 2, 3 across the top row and 6, 5, 4 across the middle.
- Move from 1 to 2 to 3, then down to 4.
- Continue left to 5 and 6 rather than jumping down to a visually convenient but nonconsecutive square.
Common mistakes
- Diagonal contact is not an edge connection.
- The next number is always exactly one greater; a larger number is not acceptable simply because it is adjacent.
Questions
Do I have to return to the start?
No. The trail finishes when you reach the largest numbered square. A fresh board follows.
Do correct partial trails count?
Yes. Every valid new forward step is one objective, even if the overall round ends before the board is cleared.
