How to Play Mazes

Mazes are one of the easiest drawing games to pick up, but a clear step-by-step approach makes both drawing and solving them go a lot more smoothly.

What You'll Need

A sheet of paper, a pencil for the initial draft, and a pen or marker for the final version. Graph paper is helpful for grid-style mazes but not required.

How to Draw a Maze

1. Mark a starting point on one edge of the paper and a finish point on the opposite or adjacent edge.
2. Lightly sketch a winding path connecting the start to the finish — this becomes the "answer" to the maze.
3. Add wall lines along both sides of this path to define the correct route.
4. Branch off several dead-end paths from various points along the walls, making sure none of them accidentally connect back to the finish.
5. Erase or lighten the original guide path so it's no longer obviously visible, leaving only the wall lines.

How to Solve a Maze

1. Place a pencil at the starting point.
2. Trace forward along any open path, backtracking whenever a dead end is reached.
3. Continue testing paths until the route leading to the finish point is found.
4. Trace over the final successful path in a bright color to mark the solution clearly.

Ending the Game

The maze is considered solved the moment a continuous line connects start to finish without crossing any walls. For a competitive twist, time how long it takes each player to solve an identical maze.

Tips for Parents and Teachers

• Keep the number of dead ends low for a first maze — three or four is plenty.
• Use a ruler for grid mazes to keep wall lines crisp and easy to follow.
• For group settings, hand out mazes designed by other kids in the group to solve.

Frequently Asked Questions

How complex should a first maze be?

Start small, with a grid around five squares by five squares and only a couple of dead ends, then increase complexity gradually.

What's the easiest way to avoid drawing an unsolvable maze?

Always draw the correct path before adding any walls or dead ends — the walls should surround the solution, never interrupt it.

Can mazes be timed for a group activity?

Yes, handing out identical mazes and timing each player is a popular way to turn maze-solving into a quick group competition.

Conclusion

With the drawing and solving steps broken down, mazes are ready to become a regular activity. Next, try dot-to-dot games for another pencil-based puzzle.