There is so Much More to Know

There is so much more to know about mazes. Let's start off with the types. I'll try to keep it interesting.

Arrow Maze

This is a type of logic maze containing some passages that may only be followed in one direction (denoted by the arrows). All mazes can be reduced to an arrow maze.

Block maze

A maze that cannot be solved without clearing the maze pathways of movable blocks is called a block maze (who knew?).

Logic maze

This maze must be navigated by following logical rules in addition to following its passages. One type may be a maze containing different colored symbols that must be passed in a certain order, or a maze that has some passages that may only be followed in one direction (like the arrow maze mentioned before).

Unicursal maze

A maze with a single path (like the labyrinth I discussed before).

Multicursal maze

A maze with at least one junction or more than one path (aka, not a labyrinth).

Multiply-connected maze

A multiply-connected maze contains one or more passages that loop back into other passages, rather than leading to dead ends. A well-designed multiply-connected maze is  difficult to solve because maze solvers will  spend a very large amount of time going around in circles. To take it a step further, a multiply connected maze can have no dead ends at all thus leaving a lot of solvers very irritated. This is called a Braid maze.

Weave maze

A weave maze has pathways that go under and over each other. They are three dimensional mazes because it exists in more than two dimensions. For example an outdoor maze that has bridges or tunnels is a partial weave maze. If it is drawn on paper, we are just looking at it from directly above.

Number Maze

This maze uses numbers (or letters or other symbols) by which the maze solver can jump to other areas in the maze by following the numbers, avoiding the usual walls. In other words, it is a teleportation maze.  For instance, a number maze with the letter "A" in two places would allow you to jump from one "A" to the other. Because of the teleports, these mazes are also partial weave mazes.

Planair maze

A mind-bending maze whose underlying topology is unusual (non-Euclidean) and which has edges that connect with one another. This is the technical term, to put it in plain English: A planair maze has a weird geometry. The edges are connected in more than abnormal ways. For example the maze might be made on the surface of a cube or ring.

Simply-connected maze

Simply-connected mazes have pathways that never re-connect with one another, so every path you choose either leads to another path or to a dead end. These mazes are easy because there is only one solution to a simply-connected maze, and it can always be found by following the "left hand rule.” You walk forward, keeping your left hand on the wall at all times and voila, the maze is solved.