Arrow escape solver facts at a glance
The arrow escape solver takes boards from 3x3 to 12x12, up to 144 arrows, and returns a tap order in which every arrow leaves on its first tap, or names the arrows that deadlock. It is free, needs no account and runs in your browser.
| Board sizes | 3 to 12 rows and 3 to 12 columns, up to 144 arrows |
|---|---|
| Arrows | One cell each, pointing up, right, down or left; empty cells allowed |
| Move rule | A tapped arrow slides off the board only when no other arrow sits between it and the edge |
| What you get | The tap order, one tap per arrow (the fewest possible), grouped in rounds, with a step-by-step replay |
| Deadlocks | Arrows that block each other in a loop are marked red and named, with the arrows stuck behind them |
| Share link | Copy board link reopens the board and its solution; the board lives in the link |
| Play mode | 12 built-in levels in four steps, Easy to Expert, from 4x4 with 10 arrows to 9x9 with 77 arrows; each one checked solvable by this solver |
| Price and setup | Free, no account, no download; runs in your browser |
How to play the arrows puzzle
Every level is a grid of arrows, and the goal is to clear it. Tap an arrow: if every cell between it and the edge is empty, it slides off the board the way it points; if another arrow is in the way, it bumps that arrow, stays put and counts as a blocked tap. Removing an arrow never traps another one, so you cannot lose a level by tapping in the wrong order, only waste taps. A perfect clear takes one move per arrow with no blocked taps. Undo puts back the last arrow, Restart starts the level again, and Stuck? Show the next move rings an arrow that is free right now. Solve this level opens the board as it stands in the solver, with every remaining tap in order. Cleared levels get a tick and are remembered on this device.
How to use the arrow escape solver
Set the rows and columns of your level, paint each arrow onto the grid with the matching direction, and press Solve: the numbers show the order to tap the arrows so each one slides straight off the board. A full 12x12 board solves instantly.
- Set the board size. Pick the number of rows and columns, from 3 to 12 each. Arrows you already entered stay in place when you change the size.
- Copy the arrows. Pick a direction, up, right, down or left, then tap every cell that holds an arrow pointing that way. Tap an arrow again to clear its cell, or use Erase.
- Press Solve. Each arrow gets a small number: tap the arrows in your game in that order and every tap clears one arrow.
- Follow along step by step. Next and Back show the board after each tap with the next arrow ringed, and Play runs the whole solution, so you can check your game against every step.
- Keep the answer. Copy all taps puts the list on your clipboard, and Copy board link saves a link that reopens this board with its solution.
What makes an arrow board unsolvable
An arrow board is unsolvable exactly when some arrows block each other in a loop, such as two arrows in the same row pointing at each other: neither can leave first, so neither ever leaves. Longer loops work the same way, for example four arrows around a square that each point at the next one. Any arrow whose path runs through a loop is stuck too, even though it is not part of the loop. The solver marks the arrows in the loop red, the arrows stuck behind it orange, and still lists the taps that clear the rest of the board. In tap-to-escape games, a wrong tap usually costs a life, so it pays to check a level here before guessing.
How the solver works
The solver turns the board into a dependency graph: an arrow depends on every arrow between it and the edge, and a topological sort of that graph is the tap order. Arrows never move except to leave, so these dependencies never change while you play, and removing an arrow can only free others. The solver first takes every arrow with a clear path, removes them, then takes every arrow that is now free, and repeats; each pass is one round. If arrows remain when no arrow is free, they contain a loop, and the solver follows the blocking arrows until it comes back to the start to show you that loop. Everything runs in your browser.
Frequently asked questions
How do you play the arrows puzzle?
Tap an arrow to slide it off the board in the direction it points. It only moves when no other arrow sits between it and the edge; clear every arrow to finish the level. Start with the arrows on the outside that point out, since they are always free.
Why does the solver say my board is deadlocked?
Two or more arrows block each other in a loop, so none of them can ever leave. The simplest case is two arrows in one row pointing at each other. A level from a game always has a way out, so a deadlock almost always means one arrow was copied the wrong way round; the solver names the arrows in the loop so you know which cells to check.
Does the order of the taps matter?
Only between arrows that block each other: an arrow has to wait until every arrow on its path to the edge has left. Arrows in the same round are free at the same time and can be tapped in any order. Removing an arrow never blocks another one, so you can never get stuck by tapping a free arrow early.
Is it the fewest taps?
Yes. Every arrow in the answer leaves on its first tap, so a board with 25 arrows takes exactly 25 taps, the fewest possible. Tapping a blocked arrow is the only way to waste a move, and the answer never does that.
Does it work with long or bent arrows?
Not yet. The solver handles boards where every arrow fills one cell and points up, right, down or left. Levels with arrows that cover several cells or snake around corners need a different input and are not supported.
Is the arrow escape solver free?
Yes. It is free, with no account and no download, and it runs in your browser. A board link keeps the arrows in the link itself.