Level 19 · Tonkotsu Ramen

Tonkotsu Ramen is level 19 of Crumb Colony. The pixel picture has 664 blocks in 13 colors, the tray holds 38 ant boxes, and the difficulty is Advanced.

Difficulty

Advanced

Blocks

664

Colors

13

Ant boxes

38

Mechanics

2 chained pair(s) · 2 golden key(s) · Spider web (36 bites) · Mystery boxes

Like this pixel picture? BitBead can turn it into a printable fuse bead pattern.

Play level 19

About the dish

A bowl of tonkotsu ramen: rich pork-bone broth, noodles, a soft egg, a slice of narutomaki, scallions and chopsticks resting on top.

How the picture comes apart

From the frame to the center the picture is 12 layers deep. The outer ring is mostly red and pink, the middle band is mostly navy and black, and the core is mostly navy and tan. Ants can only reach the next layer once the one around it is gone, so the core colors are the last to become useful.

By block count the biggest colors are navy, pink and red.

The 2 golden key(s) are buried in the middle band of the picture, so the locks they open come into play around the middle of the level.

The spider web covers 24 cells in the middle band of the picture and needs 36 bites from soldier ants.

Reading the tray

The tray starts with 38 boxes in 4 columns. At the start 2 of the 4 front boxes can bite right away: red (bites now), pink (bites now), white (has to wait) and tan (has to wait).

Chained pairs start in column 2–3, row 2 and column 3–4, row 3.

Locked boxes start in column 2, row 4 and column 4, row 5.

5 mystery box(es) only show their color when they reach the front.

4 soldier box(es) carry the bites for the web.

How the verified run plays out

The solution further down was played to the end in the real game, with ants walking and real timing. It takes 36 taps. The chart shows how many boxes were still parked in the 5 slots, waiting for their color, just before each tap.

Opening (taps 1–11): 38% of the blocks are eaten, with up to 3 of the 5 slots holding a box that is waiting.

Middle (taps 12–21): 30% of the blocks are eaten, with up to 4 of the 5 slots holding a box that is waiting.

Ending (taps 22–36): 33% of the blocks are eaten, with up to 4 of the 5 slots holding a box that is waiting.

A key comes out before tap 7. A key comes out before tap 11. The web breaks before tap 25. Chained pairs are taken at taps 12 and 13.

How hard is it?

Two test players attempted this level many times: a cautious one that only sends colors it can use right away cleared it 11% of the time, and a look-ahead one that tries each option before committing cleared it 20% of the time. Most of their failed attempts jammed in the ending.

Strategy

Check the colors of the first three boxes in each column and compare them with the colors exposed on the outer ring of the picture. Always keep one slot free to catch a color that can't be eaten yet.

Keys are buried in the picture and must be dug out to open the locks in the tray. Prioritize colors that eat around the keys so locked boxes don't block the front row for long.

Nothing under the spider web can be eaten. Wait until the edge of the web is exposed before sending the soldier box (the leafy green one), or it just occupies a slot.

Chained boxes need both halves in the front row and two free slots. Take the boxes in front of them first and free two neighboring slots in advance.

Mystery boxes show their color only when they reach the front. When you see one coming, don't fill every slot; leave room for it.

Chained boxes · Locks and golden keys · Spider webs and soldier ants

Step-by-step solution

This order of taps is verified to clear the level. Columns are numbered 1–4 from the left; after each tap, wait until the ants are out before the next one. Two boxes shown together are a chained pair taken in one tap.

Level 19 questions