Level 32 · Soup Dumplings

Soup Dumplings is level 32 of Crumb Colony. The pixel picture has 616 blocks in 8 colors, the tray holds 46 ant boxes, and the difficulty is Advanced.

Difficulty

Advanced

Pacing

Hard middle

Blocks

616

Colors

8

Ant boxes

46

Mechanics

3 chained pair(s) · 2 golden key(s) · Spider web (24 bites) · Number blocks · Mystery boxes

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

Play level 32

About the dish

Xiaolongbao, Shanghai soup dumplings with delicate pleated tops, served in a bamboo steamer.

How the picture comes apart

From the frame to the center the picture is 12 layers deep. The outer ring is mostly cream and light blue, the middle band is mostly gold and cream, and the core is mostly white and grey. 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 cream, light blue and gold.

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 18 cells in the outer ring of the picture and needs 24 bites from soldier ants.

1 number block(s) take 16 bites in total.

Reading the tray

The tray starts with 46 boxes in 4 columns. At the start 3 of the 4 front boxes can bite right away: cream (bites now), dark brown (bites now), dark brown (bites now) and brown (has to wait).

Chained pairs start in column 1–2, row 6, column 1–2, row 8 and column 3–4, row 8.

Locked boxes start in column 1, row 12 and column 3, row 7.

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

2 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 43 taps. The chart shows how many boxes were still parked in the 5 slots, waiting for their color, just before each tap.

Opening (taps 1–17): 37% of the blocks are eaten, with up to 3 of the 5 slots holding a box that is waiting.

Middle (taps 18–32): 35% of the blocks are eaten, with up to 1 of the 5 slots holding a box that is waiting.

Ending (taps 33–43): 28% of the blocks are eaten, with up to 0 of the 5 slots holding a box that is waiting.

A key comes out before tap 9. A key comes out before tap 27. The web breaks before tap 25. Chained pairs are taken at taps 16, 27 and 30.

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 91% of the time, and a look-ahead one that tries each option before committing cleared it 73% of the time. Most of their failed attempts jammed in the middle.

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.

The start is easy and the pressure builds in the middle. Use the calm opening to sort out the back rows and try to have two slots free before the middle phase.

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.

Number blocks take many bites; the number is how many remain. They can be bitten as soon as any side is exposed, and several boxes of that color can work on one at once.

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 · Number blocks · Difficulty curves

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 32 questions