Level 71 · Kagami Mochi

Kagami Mochi is level 71 of Crumb Colony. The pixel picture has 576 blocks in 3 colors, the tray holds 46 ant boxes, and the difficulty is Normal.

Difficulty

Normal

Pacing

Hard middle

Blocks

576

Colors

3

Ant boxes

46

Mechanics

Mystery boxes · Gift wrapping

Play level 71

About the dish

Kagami mochi, the Japanese New Year offering of two round rice cakes stacked on a stand and topped with a bitter orange.

How the picture comes apart

From the frame to the center the picture is 12 layers deep. The outer ring is mostly red and dark red, the middle band is mostly black and dark red, 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 dark red, red and white.

The whole picture starts gift-wrapped in purple and yellow paper, with a deep pink ribbon on top. The wrapping tears from the edges inward and the paper under the ribbon opens last; only uncovered blocks can be eaten.

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: yellow (bites now), deep pink (has to wait), yellow (bites now) and purple (bites now).

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

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

Opening (taps 1–20): 33% of the blocks are eaten, with up to 2 of the 5 slots holding a box that is waiting.

Middle (taps 21–34): 34% of the blocks are eaten, with up to 2 of the 5 slots holding a box that is waiting.

Ending (taps 35–46): 32% of the blocks are eaten, with up to 2 of the 5 slots holding a box that is waiting.

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 81% of the time, and a look-ahead one that tries each option before committing cleared it 100% 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.

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 whole picture starts gift-wrapped. The wrapping tears from the edges inward on its own, and only uncovered blocks can be eaten, so keep the unwrapping one step ahead of the eating. The ribbon is an extra layer: the paper under it stays shut until the ribbon is off, and that is where the level keeps its pressure.

Gift wrapping · 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 71 questions