Unblock Block — Slide the Key Block to the Exit
Slide blocks aside to clear a path so the red key block can exit on the right.
How to play
- Click a block to select it (it gets a white border).
- Use the move buttons or arrow keys to slide the selected block.
- Horizontal blocks move left/right; vertical blocks move up/down only.
- Clear the row so the red KEY block can exit on the right edge to win.
The board is jammed with sliding blocks. Each block moves only along its length — horizontal blocks slide left/right, vertical blocks slide up/down. Click a block to select it, then use the move buttons (or arrow keys) to shift it. Clear a lane so the red KEY block can slide off the right edge through the exit.
How it works
Unblock Block is a sliding puzzle game inspired by the classic Rush Hour board game. The board is a grid filled with horizontal and vertical blocks of varying lengths. Your goal is to slide the red key block out through the exit opening on the right side of the board.
Blocks can only slide in the direction they are oriented: horizontal blocks slide left and right, vertical blocks slide up and down. You cannot rotate or jump blocks. Each move shifts one block by one or more spaces in its allowed direction, as long as nothing is in the way.
The puzzle requires planning ahead. Moving one block often reveals a chain of moves needed elsewhere. Start by identifying which blocks directly obstruct the red block's path, then work backwards to figure out what must move to free them.
This game exercises spatial reasoning and logical planning. It is well-suited for a quick mental workout during a break, and difficulty increases significantly as more blocking pieces are added to the grid.
Worked example
Clear a two-block obstruction
- Identify the red key block in its row and locate the exit on the right wall.
- Note which blocks sit in the red block's row between it and the exit.
- Find a vertical block that is blocking a horizontal obstacle and slide it upward to open space.
- Slide the horizontal obstacle block out of the row.
- Slide the red key block all the way right through the exit.
Puzzle solved with five moves.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Trying to move a vertical block horizontally -- each block is locked to one axis.
- Moving the first blocking piece without checking whether it is itself blocked, causing a dead end.
- Focusing only on the key block's row and ignoring vertical blockers that must be repositioned first.
Key terms
- Key block
- The red block you must guide to the exit; it is always horizontal.
- Obstruction
- Any block sitting in the path of the key block or a block you need to move.
- Chain move
- A sequence of moves where freeing one block enables the next necessary move.
Frequently asked questions
- Which way can a block move?
- Horizontal blocks slide only left and right; vertical blocks slide only up and down. Blocks can't rotate or jump over others.
- How do I win?
- Maneuver the other blocks out of the way and slide the red KEY block all the way off the right edge.