Ricochet — the arrow puzzle where every path can bend
Launch each arrow so its routed path reaches the edge of the board. The twist: deflectors bend that path 90 degrees, so the clear route is rarely the obvious one. Ricochet is free, mobile-first, and every board is guaranteed solvable.
How to play
Ricochet is simple to learn. Every board is a grid of arrows and mirror-like deflectors. Your job is to clear every arrow.
- Tap or click an arrow to launch it in the direction it points.
- The arrow travels cell by cell along its routed path.
- If the path reaches the edge of the board, the arrow flies off and is removed.
- If the path runs into another arrow first, the launch is blocked — pick a different arrow.
- Clear all arrows to win the board.
The deflector twist
Deflectors are mirrors that bend a travelling arrow 90 degrees. They never block a path — they redirect it. This turns simple straight-line reading into route tracing, which is what makes the game interesting.
Two deflector orientations exist: “/” sends right→up, up→right, left→down, down→left; and “\” sends right→down, down→right, left→up, up→left. Chains of deflectors can route an arrow around corners and across the whole board.
Game modes
Main Route
A hand-tuned difficulty curve of ordered boards that grow from small and gentle to large and fiendish. Your progress is saved as you clear each one.
Random Play
A fresh, guaranteed-solvable board generated on demand. Great for a quick game or endless practice — no two are the same.
Challenge
Named boards shaped like silhouettes — a heart, a rooster, an elephant and more — played against a five-minute timer. Beat your best time on each.
Keystone Mode
An optional toggle that adds keystone arrows. Launch one and it clears its neighbours in a cascade for bonus points — solvability is always preserved.
Strategy tips
- Trace the whole route, not just the first step. An arrow that looks blocked straight ahead may have a clear bent path through a deflector — and an arrow with open space in front may still be blocked after a bend.
- Clear long corridors first. Arrows with a long clear run to the edge are usually safe to launch early and open up space for the rest.
- Spot deflector chains. Two or more mirrors in a line can carry an arrow around corners. Learning to read these chains at a glance is the biggest skill jump.
- Work backwards from blockers. If an arrow you want gone is blocked, ask which arrow is in its way and clear that one first.
- Save your hints. Hints are limited. Use them on genuinely tangled positions with multiple routed blockers rather than early, obvious moves.
- Chase combos for score. Plan a sequence of launches you can fire in quick succession to keep the combo multiplier alive — longer routes pay more.
Frequently asked questions
What is the goal of the game?
Clear every arrow from the board. Tap an arrow to launch it; if its routed path reaches an edge without hitting another arrow, it flies off and is removed.
How do deflectors work?
A deflector is a mirror ("/" or "\") that bends a travelling arrow 90 degrees. Deflectors never block a path — they redirect it — which turns simple straight-line reading into route tracing.
Why was my launch blocked?
The arrow's routed path ran into another arrow before reaching the edge. Trace the full route, including any bends at deflectors, to find what is in the way.
Are the puzzles always solvable?
Yes. Every board is generated by reverse construction, so a valid solution order always exists. You can never reach an unwinnable state by making legal moves.
What are combos?
Launch arrows in quick succession to build a combo multiplier and score more. Longer routed exits are worth extra points. A blocked launch or a pause resets the combo.
What is Keystone mode?
Keystone arrows clear their orthogonal neighbours when launched, creating a cascade and bonus points. It is an optional mode you can toggle on.
Do I need to install anything?
No. Ricochet runs entirely in your browser on phones, tablets, and desktops. There is nothing to download and no account required.
How do hints work?
A hint highlights one arrow that is safe to launch right now while keeping the board solvable. Hints are limited per board, so save them for genuinely tricky positions.
Is the game free to play?
Yes, it is completely free. The site is supported by advertising so the game can stay free for everyone.
Can I share my result?
After clearing a board you get a spoiler-free, emoji-style result you can copy and share, similar to popular daily word games.
About this site
Ricochet is made and maintained by an independent team. We design the puzzles, build the engine, and write these guides ourselves.