Strategy
Ball sort puzzle strategy: how to solve every level
Why empty tubes matter most, how to plan two moves ahead, and what to do when a ball sort puzzle seems to have no way forward.
2 min read
Ball Sort
Sort the coloured balls so every tube holds a single colour, moving them only onto a matching colour or into an empty tube.
Level
Time0:00
Moves0
Click a tube to pick up its top balls, then click the tube to drop them in.Tap a tube to pick up its top balls, then tap the tube to drop them in.
Each tube is a button. Press Enter or Space on a tube to pick up its top balls, then on another tube to drop them. Arrow keys move between tubes, Escape puts the balls back, U undoes, R goes back to the start, H gives a hint and P pauses. Every colour also has its own symbol.
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About Ball Sort
Ball Sort is a calm sorting puzzle. A rack of tubes holds coloured balls all mixed up, plus a couple of empty tubes. Move the balls around until every tube holds four balls of a single colour.
The catch is the stacking rule: a ball can only land on a ball of the same colour, or in an empty tube. Plan a few moves ahead so you never box yourself in. Every deal is checked by a solver, so there is always a way through.
How to play Ball Sort
- Pick a level: more colours mean more tubes and longer puzzles.
- Tap or click a tube to pick up its top ball, along with any balls of the same colour right under it.
- Tap another tube to drop them. They land if that tube is empty or its top ball is the same colour, as many as fit.
- A tube with four balls of one colour is sorted. Sort every colour to solve the puzzle.
- Stuck? Undo, restart the deal, or ask for a hint.
Ball Sort controls
| Pick up or drop | Click a tube, or Enter or Space on it |
|---|---|
| Move between tubes | Arrow keys or Tab |
| Put the balls back | Escape, or the same tube again |
| Undo | U or Ctrl+Z |
| Back to the start | R |
| Hint | H |
| Pause and resume | P |
| Sound on or off | M |
| Pick up and drop | Tap a tube, then tap where the balls should go |
|---|---|
| Undo, restart or hint | Buttons under the tubes |
Ball Sort rules
Moving balls
Each tube holds up to 4 balls. You always move from the top: the top ball and any balls of the same colour directly under it travel together, as many as fit in the tube you drop them in.
Balls can only be dropped into an empty tube or onto a ball of the same colour.
Levels
Easy has 5 colours, Medium 7, Hard 9 and Expert 12, each with 4 balls per colour and two empty tubes to work with. No tube starts sorted, and every deal is checked by a solver to be solvable.
Hints and dead ends
A hint shows one move that still leads to a solution from where you are. If no solution is left, it tells you so, and undo or restart gets you back on track.
Every colour has its own symbol on the ball as well as its colour.
Best times
The clock starts with your first move and stops while paused. Your best time for each level is saved in this browser, for puzzles solved without hints. Your puzzle in progress is saved too.
Tips and strategy
- Keep an empty tube free for as long as you can. It is your most valuable space.
- Before moving a ball, check where the ball under it will go next.
- Build on colours that are already near the bottom of a tube; they will not need to move again.
- If a colour is buried under many others, start digging it out early.
- Undo is free. Try an idea, and take it back if it leads nowhere.
Frequently asked questions
Is every puzzle solvable?
Yes. Each deal is checked by a solver before you see it, so there is always at least one way to sort every colour.
What happens if I get stuck?
Undo your last moves, restart the deal, or use a hint. The hint tells you if the current position can no longer be solved.
Can I tell the colours apart without seeing colour?
Yes. Every colour has its own symbol, such as a star, a heart or a cross.
Is my puzzle saved if I leave?
Yes. The puzzle in progress, your moves and your time are stored in this browser so you can finish later.
Is Ball Sort free?
Yes. It is free to play in your browser with no account, download or payment.
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