Mini Maze · 3 min
Mini Maze: Plan Before Moving
Trace branches deliberately and avoid repeating dead ends.
Last updated: 2026-07-22 · Written and tested by Starbox EditorialFind the goal before the first move
Locate your starting square and the goal, then scan for walls that divide the board into corridors. The shortest-looking direction may immediately hit a closed route. A two-second overview reveals whether the goal can be approached from above, below, left, or right.
Work backward from the goal
Check which neighboring square can enter the goal. Then ask how that square can be reached. Backward tracing often exposes a required doorway that is difficult to notice when moving forward from the start. Once the final corridor is known, connect your current branch to it.
Mark branches mentally
At each junction, remember the path not taken. If the chosen route ends, return to the most recent junction and take the stored alternative. Do not restart the entire search or revisit a confirmed dead end. This depth-first habit is simple enough for a compact five-by-five maze.
Separate route quality from input errors
A move count can be high because the plan was inefficient or because a directional button was tapped twice. Review the route independently: was there a shorter open path? Then review execution. On touch devices, pause until the player visibly reaches the new square before issuing the next move.
Return to the game with a clear method and compare like-for-like attempts.