Golden Arrows, Portals, Ice and Keys: BallRoute Explained
BallRoute starts with plain arrows and adds a new idea every few levels. Here is each mechanic, when it appears and how to think about it.
Arrows (from level 1)
The basic piece. An arrow sends the ball one cell in the direction it points. Tap to turn it clockwise, long-press to turn it counter-clockwise. Every turn is one move.
Holes
Empty cells on the board. If the ball rolls into one, the drop fails. Holes are the reason you can't simply point every arrow at the exit: you have to steer around them.
More than one route (level 4)
From level 4, boards have several possible routes to the exit. Any route within the move limit wins the level, but only the route with the fewest turns earns three stars.
Golden arrows (level 6)
Golden arrows work like normal ones, but the ball collects bonus coins when it rolls over them. They often sit a little off the perfect route, so you have to choose: take the detour for coins, or save your moves for three stars.
Locked arrows (level 12)
Locked arrows look different from normal ones and can't be turned. They are fixed parts of the puzzle. Check where a locked arrow sends the ball before anything else: it often decides half the level for you.
Portals (level 17)
Portals come in pairs of the same colour. When the ball enters one, it comes out of the other and keeps moving in that portal's direction. A portal turns a long trip across the board into one step, and portals are often part of the perfect solution.
Ice (level 21)
On ice, the ball can't turn. It slides straight on in the direction it was moving until it reaches solid ground. Plan for where the ball will land after the ice, not where it gets on.
Keys (level 31)
Some boards have keys, and the exit stays locked until the ball has collected all of them. The exit shows a padlock until then. If the ball reaches the exit too early, the drop fails and the game tells you to grab the key first.
Boss levels (every 50 levels)
Every 50th level is a boss level: a bigger, harder board that mixes everything above. Clearing one for the first time pays a large coin bounty.
The daily challenge
Separate from the main levels, there is a new challenge every day. It is harder than a normal level and the same for every player. A calendar ticks off every day you solve. Here is why a daily puzzle is worth it.
Putting it all together
Late levels combine several mechanics: a portal that drops the ball onto ice, a key behind a locked arrow, a golden detour right next to the exit. The approach stays the same. Find what you can't change, work backwards from the exit and count your turns. Our arrow puzzle tips go into more detail.