I created this code for my two kids who loving playing with Minecraft and coding with Scratch. So, when Microsoft made Minecraft Education Edition available to parents, it seemed like a perfect opportunity to show them how MakeCode can be used to create and solve random mazes.
- What mazes can I make?
- How do I import and use the code?
- How can I change the maze blocks?
- How does the buildMaze function work?
- How does the solveMaze function work?
- Frequently asked questions
- How can I buy you a coffee? ☕️
- This code can be used with Minecraft Education Edition or Minecraft for Windows 10.
- A simple maze with [n] rows x [n] columns
- A tower maze with [n] rows x [n] columns x [n] layers
- A pyramid maze with [n] layers
- A diamond maze with [n] layers
- Launch Minecraft Education Edition or Minecraft for Windows 10.
- Create a new world or join an existing one.
- Open the Code Builder window (by pressing "C").
- Import the code using this URL:
https://makecode.com/_Cx12LwfTebbL - Close the Code Builder window (or press the green "Play" button).
- Open the Chat and Commands window (by pressing "T").
- Type
maze 5 5for a simple maze with 10 rows and 10 columns. - Type
tower 5 5 5for a tower maze with 5 rows, 5 columns, and 5 maze layers. - Type
pyramid 5for a pyramid maze with 5 maze layers. - Type
diamond 5for a diamond maze with 5 maze layers.
By default, the code will build the maze and then solve it. You can’t build a second maze until it’s finished solving the first one, as the code is still running. If you’re feeling impatient and you want to build lots of mazes quickly, then you have two options:
-
Option 1: Open and then close the Code Builder window. This will stop the current code from running and you can then start building a new maze. However, it sometimes takes a few seconds after closing the Code Builder window until Minecraft is actually ready to run the code.
-
Option 2: Open the Code Builder window and change the
solve_mazevariable tofalseat the top of the code.
You can experiment with different styles of mazes by changing the following variables at the top of the code:
maze_blockstower_blockspyramid_blocksdiamond_blocks
Try building mazes out of wood, stone, bricks, slime, or even glass. However, beware of trying to build mazes from sand or vegetation, as they will collapse or change shape. Also, building a maze from ice is not a great idea if you then put torches inside...
If you want to experiment with really large mazes, you can change the maximum_maze_rows_columns and maximum_maze_layers variables at the top of the code. Just be careful when building large mazes close to things that your kids have spent hours creating, as the mazes will destroy everything in their path... 🦖
The mazes are built using a recursive backtracker algorithm.
Imagine a maze grid with unlinked cells. Pick a random cell in the maze and add it to a working list.
Now, repeat the following loop until there are no cells left in the working list:
- Use the cell at the end of the working list as the current cell.
- If the current cell has not been visited before, then mark it as visited.
- If the current cell has unvisited neighbours then:
- Pick one of them at random.
- Link a path to it through the wall.
- Add that neighbouring cell to the end of the working list.
- If the current cell has no unvisited neighbours then:
- Remove the current cell from the end of the working list.
Try building a large maze (20 x 20) and watch how the algorithm backtracks when it gets itself into a dead end with no unvisited neighbours. Every cell in the maze will eventually get visited and linked to a neighbour.
You can learn more about the recursive backtracker algorithm (and many other wonderful maze algorithms) in Jamis Buck’s amazing book Maze for Programmers. 🥁
The mazes are solved using a simple left hand on the wall algorithm.
Imagine that you’re in the maze and that it’s dark with no torches...
Now, you must keep your left hand on the wall at all times by following these simple rules:
- If you can turn left, then turn left.
- If you can’t turn left but you can go straight ahead, then go straight ahead.
- If you can’t turn left or go straight ahead but you can turn right, then turn right.
- If you can’t turn left, go straight ahead, or turn right, then you must turn around.
The block, pyramid, and diamond mazes include one additional rule at the beginning to move down through the layers:
- If you can go down to the next layer, then go down.
The solveMaze function also implements a shortest path algorithm so that you can see the quickest route through the maze. You can learn more about path shortening here.
If you’re looking for some fun, try racing the maze solver (or your friends) by following the rules above and seeing if you can get to the exit first.🥇
What’s the most difficult maze to solve? A glass maze with no torches. Seriously, try it…
Can I use the code with my students in a lesson? Please, please do. You can have a lot of fun talking about how the mazes are built and solved without needing to understand every line of code.
Can I share the code with others? Sure. Please give them the link to this GitHub page and then they’ll always be able to download the latest version with any updates.
Can I modify the code slightly, call it my own, and then sell it? Er, no. Please read the license. ✌️
Could the code be improved? Sure, it could probably be a bit shorter in places but I wanted to make it easy for kids to understand what's going on.
Can the code be converted from Python to Blocks or Javascript? Sure. Just create a new Blocks, Javascript, and Python project in MakeCode, switch to the Python view, paste the Python code from here, and then switch back to Blocks or Javascript view. However, please note that MakeCode messes up the Python code (and especially the comments) if you try to switch back again from the Blocks or Javascript view.
☕️ If you find this code useful or inspiring, then feel free to buy me a coffee (or two, or three).
😊 Many thanks in advance!