Level 57 · Gua Bao

Gua Bao is level 57 of Crumb Colony. The pixel picture has 528 blocks in 9 colors, the tray holds 35 ant boxes, and the difficulty is Advanced.

Difficulty

Advanced

Pacing

Hard middle

Blocks

528

Colors

9

Ant boxes

35

Mechanics

3 chained pair(s) · Number blocks · Mystery boxes · Conveyor tray (every 3 taps)

Play level 57

About the dish

Taiwanese gua bao: a soft folded steamed bun stuffed with braised pork belly, pickled greens, peanut powder and cilantro.

How the picture comes apart

From the frame to the center the picture is 11 layers deep. The outer ring is mostly white and tan, the middle band is mostly white and grey, and the core is mostly dark red and gold. 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 white and tan.

1 number block(s) take 18 bites in total.

Reading the tray

The tray starts with 35 boxes in 4 columns. At the start 3 of the 4 front boxes can bite right away: white (bites now), tan (bites now), black (bites now) and grey (has to wait).

Chained pairs start in column 2–3, row 4, column 2–3, row 6 and column 3–4, row 5.

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

The tray is a conveyor: every 3 taps the front row shifts one column to the right, and the rightmost box wraps around to the left.

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 32 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): 37% of the blocks are eaten, with up to 1 of the 5 slots holding a box that is waiting.

Middle (taps 12–20): 30% of the blocks are eaten, with up to 3 of the 5 slots holding a box that is waiting.

Ending (taps 21–32): 33% of the blocks are eaten, with up to 1 of the 5 slots holding a box that is waiting.

Chained pairs are taken at taps 11, 12 and 21.

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 18% of the time, and a look-ahead one that tries each option before committing cleared it 70% 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.

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.

The conveyor moves the front row one column to the right every few taps. Before a turn, take the color you need if it is about to slide away; a box you don't want yet may be moved aside for you. Locked boxes and chained pairs stay put.

Chained boxes · Number blocks · Conveyor tray · 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 57 questions