Sokoban online: push the boxes onto the goals
In Sokoban you play a warehouse worker who pushes boxes onto marked goal squares – you cannot pull, and one wrong push can block the level. Here you play Sokoban with undo, hints and endless levels that are guaranteed to be solvable.
Source: Wikipedia: Sokoban (en). Updated: .
How it is calculated
How to play Sokoban
- You are the round game piece. Move with the arrow keys or WASD, on a phone by swiping or with the arrow pad.
- If you walk into a box you push it one square – but only if there is room behind it. Boxes cannot be pulled and you cannot push two at once.
- The level is complete when every goal has a box on it (the box then shows a tick).
- “Undo” takes back the last move, “Restart” begins the level again.
Levels, difficulty and random levels
There are three difficulty levels with growing size and number of boxes. Use ◀ and ▶ to pick the level number; every number is a fixed level that always looks the same. “Random level” creates a new one. All levels are built by playing backwards: the generator starts with all boxes on the goals and pulls them backwards through the room. That is why every level is guaranteed solvable. After solving one without help you can send your time to a friend with the share button – the link contains the level.
Tips for solving
- Corners are traps: a box in a corner that is not a goal can never be moved again.
- Do not get stuck on a wall: along a wall a box can only slide sideways unless a goal lies on the same wall.
- Think backwards: work out from which side the box must be pushed onto its goal and plan your route there.
- If you are stuck, use Hint: it searches a route from your current position and shows the next move. A level solved with help does not count for the challenge.
Where does Sokoban come from?
Sokoban (Japanese for “warehouse keeper”) was invented in 1981 by Hiroyuki Imabayashi and is a classic of puzzle games. It is hard even for computers: solving Sokoban is a PSPACE-complete problem. More brain teasers: sliding puzzle, block puzzle, minesweeper and 2048.
Frequently asked questions
How do you play Sokoban?
You push boxes onto the goal squares with your game piece. Boxes can only be pushed, not pulled, and only one at a time. When all goals are occupied the level is solved.
Are the levels really solvable?
Yes. Every level is built by playing backwards from a solved position, so there is always at least one solution.
What if I get stuck?
“Undo” takes moves back, “Restart” begins again and “Hint” shows the next move. “Show solution” also plays a solution.
How does it work on a phone?
Swipe across the board or use the arrow buttons below it. The board adapts to your screen width.
Is my progress saved?
Yes, your device remembers which levels you have cleared. Nothing is sent to a server.
Sources and legal basis
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