Level 77 · Hot Cross Buns

Hot Cross Buns is level 77 of Crumb Colony. The pixel picture has 572 blocks in 3 colors, the tray holds 48 ant boxes, and the difficulty is Advanced.

Difficulty

Advanced

Pacing

Hard middle

Blocks

572

Colors

3

Ant boxes

48

Mechanics

3 chained pair(s) · Mystery boxes · Gift wrapping

Play level 77

About the dish

Three hot cross buns, the spiced Easter buns with raisins and a white cross on top.

How the picture comes apart

From the frame to the center the picture is 11 layers deep. The outer ring is mostly mint and green, the middle band is mostly grey and orange, and the core is mostly orange and white. 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 grey, mint and green.

The whole picture starts gift-wrapped in pink and purple paper, with a light blue 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 48 boxes in 4 columns. At the start 3 of the 4 front boxes can bite right away: light blue (has to wait), pink (bites now), purple (bites now) and pink (bites now).

Chained pairs start in column 1–2, row 7, column 1–2, row 8 and column 3–4, row 6.

2 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 45 taps. The chart shows how many boxes were still parked in the 5 slots, waiting for their color, just before each tap.

Opening (taps 1–22): 36% of the blocks are eaten, with up to 2 of the 5 slots holding a box that is waiting.

Middle (taps 23–31): 37% of the blocks are eaten, with up to 3 of the 5 slots holding a box that is waiting.

Ending (taps 32–45): 27% of the blocks are eaten, with up to 4 of the 5 slots holding a box that is waiting.

Chained pairs are taken at taps 18, 29 and 31.

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 60% of the time, and a look-ahead one that tries each option before committing cleared it 65% 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.

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 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.

Chained boxes · 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 77 questions