There are many fun ways to play PERPLEXUS. It works as both a single player game and as a multi-player competitive game.

HOW TO PLAY... the basics

• Roll the ball to one of the starting points, numbered 1 2 or 3 (we suggest starting with #1) If you can´t find them.... put PERPLEXUS down and slowly back away!
• Flip, twist and spin PERPLEXUS to move the ball along the numbered path. When you fall off the track.... cuz it´s gonna happen.... just start over!!!
• If you make it to the end, pat yourself on the back... then go get the next PERPLEXUS challenge!

Basic Challenge game play is the most fundamental and non-competitive. Everyone starts out here. Many are satisfied with this level of play, and never try to reach for the stars. Its essence is to simply learn to navigate spatially and tactilely through PERPLEXUS.

How do you get to the Start position?

What is a “Plane Change”?

Where do I go from here?

This includes the “Ah Ha!” moment when the player first discovers the true 3D experience of PERPLEXUS. Also included in this style of game play is exclaiming how much you hate the thing! (before you pick it up again and start over). The Basic Challenge is a journey of self-discovery, patience, perception, and focus. Many beginning players cannot stop themselves from telling others about PERPLEXUS.

THINGS ONLY GET WORSE FROM HERE!

So - it´s likely that you started by picking up the ball and eventually finding the starting position points for levels 1 to 3. Fairly quickly you´ll have worked out that Level One is the easiest path and started on this in earnest.

You've developed an understanding of the game, but are still intimidated by move #30. You practice many dozens of times, often to the detriment of others around you that want a turn. Your desire is to play accurately and fast. A benefit of this level of play is the development of muscle and auditory memory. Players that are good at getting from #1-#26 can tell where along the path others playing the game are just by the sound of the ball bearing moving through Perplexus.

Stages #1 to #26 will simply be the section that you play the most often during your lifetime of Perplexus playing, so if you aren´t posting times under 20 seconds for this section fairly quickly you´ll never make it in the land of Perplexus competitions and Head-To-Head challenges.

READY FREDDY... SLOW AND STEADY

So you´re ready to tackle one of the first really tricky sections - the much fabled stage #30. You´ll struggle here for a while but with persevernce you´ll see where the path naturally wants to take the ball. (Our hint is to look to the purple tight rope and how you´ll get onto this - but if you really struggle at around stage #30 then have a look at our blog article on getting past this stage).

You may be intimidated by the purple Tight Rope, until you actually cross it and realize that it simply takes a steady hand. In fact getting onto the rope at speed is perhaps one of the trickier moves as it flatters to deceive.

The Pivot thrills, and the Upside-Down Drop (#41) seems impossible at first. The Ringed Turnaround at #43 requires subtlety, especially upon completion. Many players at this stage start to realize that numbers are not necessary to know where to go, and start naming the sections.

Getting through the Zig-Zags with efficiency is difficult, and riding on the serpentine “Praying Man” means you are nearly through Practice Level Two. You feel good, until you drop through the Tube at #58, and fall off. Another section which becomes especially tricky at speed.

Going Head-To-Head is really fun! Listed below are several variations on the theme. In this game play, two or more players start off at the same point simultaneously. The goal can be met in two unique ways: Casual and Hard-Core.

Head-To-Head Speed Game, #1-#26
The beginner's round. Fun, fast, and friendly. This play variation can take a while in Casual mode.

Head-To-Head Speed Game, #26-#59
This one is tough!

Head-To-Head Speed Game, #59-#100
This one is even tougher!

Head-To-Head Speed Game, #1-#100
This game is toughest when played in Casual mode, simply because it may take dozens of minutes to complete. The Hard-Core version is quicker and not as relentless since the winner may not actually need to reach #100.

MELLOW

Simply get to the goal first, regardless of how many times you fall off and restart. This version allows restarts, and is a satisfying method of play because even a novice can beat a seasoned player. Slow and steady may win this race, but an accurate and speedy player can still take chances, spicing up the competition. Oh, and did I mention that it's really fun?

INTENSE

Restarts are not allowed. If you fall off, by default the player still on the track wins! Everyone playing must be really careful. But remember, a seasoned player can tell where another player is just by the sound of the ball, tensing up the competition a bit.

FREESTYLE

Are you an armchair Free Runner or a wannabe Parkour athlete? Well, let Perplexus demonstrate your skills while sitting in an airplane, or while quietly taking a taxi. Can you jump the ball from the start position directly into the turnaround at number 6? If so, you are in the running to be a Freestyle player!

This type of game play has no specific rules, per se. However, in a competitive fashion, points can be awarded for more skillful moves as defined by the players themselves or by judges. This can be likened to the point system used for gymnastics or ice-skating in the Olympics. A great Freestyler may be able to do some pretty fancy moves, perhaps only seen by other skilled players or in slow-motion instant video replay.

Help develop Freeplay moves by uploading your videos to YouTube, and sharing them with us.

WILL THE MADNESS EVER END?

OK, you´ve developed some skills and feel accomplished but you´re not quite at the higher state of consciousness that completing the puzzle requires. There is only one more level to get through. But unlike the first two, level three has 41 challenges (level one has 26, and level two has 34).

You start out with one of the more delicate moves on the purple Railed Turnaround at #62, looking forward to the wonderfully satisfying double-sided Spiral and integrated Drop Cup just ahead. The Windup Key at #76 requires precision movement, but the second Backwards Drop is a piece of cake at #80. So much so, that sometimes you get overconfident and fall off here.

It seems to take a long time to get through Level Three, and after traversing the second half of the Praying man, you are within striking distance of #100. Too bad the drop at #98 is so difficult, especially with such little practice. Falling off here is bittersweet, but you´ll eventually get the knack.

Eventually you make it, feeling near the end of your PERPLEXUS journey because you reach #100 for the first time. In truth, you are merely a qualified novice but fully ready to now take on the PERPLEXUS Competition standards, and start challenging people in a Head-to-Head challenge.