Tilt Maze · Rules guide
Tilt Maze: how to play
Tip the board and let gravity move the ball. The controls, why momentum is the real opponent, what the pits do to your time, and how the twelve mazes are scored.
The short answer
- You tip the board rather than moving the ball — gravity does the moving.
- Tilt controls work on a phone; arrow keys, WASD or dragging work on a computer.
- The ball has momentum: straighten up before a corner or you will overshoot.
- Falling into a pit returns the ball to the start, and the clock keeps running.
- Twelve mazes, each with its own best time saved.
How it works
Tilt Maze is a one-player game of control. You do not move the ball directly — you tip the board, and gravity does the rest. Roll the ball into the green hole to finish; drop it into a dark pit and you start again, with the clock still running.
- On a phone or tablet: tap Use tilt, hold the device flat — however you are holding it then becomes level — and tip it to make the ball roll.
- On a computer: the arrow keys or WASD tip the board, and you can press anywhere on the board and drag.
- The clock starts the moment the ball first moves, and it does not stop for a fall.
The ball has weight
This is the part that separates tilt mazes from ordinary mazes: the ball has momentum. It builds speed downhill and it does not stop dead when you level the board.
- Straighten up before a corner, or you will overshoot it.
- A long straight is dangerous, not helpful — the ball arrives at the far wall fast.
- Tapping a direction gives a small nudge; holding it gives acceleration. Short taps are the precise tool.
So solving the maze — knowing the route — is only half the problem. The other half is controlling speed, and it is where every second of your time goes.
| Key | What it does |
|---|---|
| ← ↑ ↓ → or WASD | Tip the board in that direction |
| Drag on the board | Tip towards where you drag |
| R | Put the ball back at the start |
| N | Next maze |
| M | Mute |
Twelve mazes and your best times
There are twelve mazes, from a gentle first roll to a proper sprawl, and your best time is kept for every one of them. That is the actual game: not finishing a maze, but finishing it faster than you did last time.
Each maze has its own colour scheme, and you can pick a palette you like and apply it to all of them.
Common questions
How do I control the ball?
By tipping the board, not by moving the ball directly. On a phone, tilt the device; on a computer, use the arrow keys, WASD, or press and drag on the board.
What happens if I fall in a pit?
The ball goes back to the start — but the clock does not stop, so a fall costs you everything you had gained on that run.
Why does the ball overshoot corners?
Because it has weight and builds speed. Level the board before the turn rather than at it, and use short taps rather than holding a direction.
Does tilting work on a laptop?
Most laptops have no tilt sensor, so use the arrow keys, WASD or drag on the board. Tilt is for phones and tablets.
How many mazes are there?
Twelve, increasing in size and complexity, and your best time is kept separately for each one.
How do I recalibrate the tilt?
Tap "Use tilt" while holding the device the way you want to hold it. That position becomes level, so you can play lying down as comfortably as sitting up.
Play Tilt Maze free, right now
No sign-up, no download — it runs in your browser against the computer, a friend on the same device, or a friend online.