How to solve Sokoban: pushing boxes without getting stuck
5 min read ·
Sokoban is the warehouse puzzle: push every box onto a goal. You can push but never pull, and only one box at a time, which means a single careless push can make a level impossible.
The skill is spotting those dead positions before you create them, then finding the shortest route, because on Puzzimo fewer moves rank higher.
The rules
- Move the keeper with the arrow keys, the on-screen pad or a swipe.
- Walk into a box to push it. You can push one box at a time and never pull.
- Get every box onto a goal to win.
Deadlocks to avoid
- Corner deadlock: a box pushed into a corner that isn't a goal can never move again.
- Wall deadlock: a box against a wall can only slide along that wall. If there's no goal anywhere along it, the box is stuck for good.
- Two-box deadlock: two boxes side by side against a wall can't be separated, since pushing one pushes into the other.
- Square deadlock: four boxes, or boxes and walls, forming a 2×2 block can't move.
Think about where you stand
To push a box in a direction, you must stand on the opposite side of it. So the real question isn't only where a box should go, but whether you can reach the square behind it for every push along the way. Leave yourself room to walk around boxes.
Choose the order
Fill the goals that are furthest in first, the ones in corners or at the end of corridors. A box parked on a goal near the entrance can block the way to the others.
Every Puzzimo level is generated backwards from the solved position, so it's always solvable. If you're stuck, undo back to the push that caused it rather than starting over.
Saving moves
Leaderboards rank by moves first, then time, and undone moves don't count. Once you've solved a level, think about the walking: pushes are fixed, but the steps between them can often be shorter if you do the boxes in a different order.
Practise
Easy is 7×7 with 2 boxes, Medium 8×8 with 3 and Hard 9×9 with 4. Each undo uses one of your undos (three free a day), so it pays to check for deadlocks before you push.
Frequently asked questions
What is a deadlock in Sokoban?
A position where a box can never reach a goal, such as a box pushed into a corner that isn't a goal, or a box against a wall with no goal along it.
Can I pull boxes in Sokoban?
No. You can only push, and only one box at a time. That's why a box in a corner can't be rescued.
How are Sokoban scores ranked on Puzzimo?
By the number of moves first, then by time. Undone moves don't count, so you can correct a mistake without hurting your score.