Ball Explosion guide: matches, chains and level strategy
How to play
- Move the pointer or your finger to aim from the center launcher.
- Click or tap to fire the current ball into the moving chain.
- Connect at least three balls of the same color to remove that group.
- Clear the complete chain before its leading ball reaches the end of the path.
Planning with the next ball
The launcher shows both the current color and the color coming next. Before firing, check whether the next shot can extend the same group or open a better match elsewhere. A quick shot is not always the useful shot: placing a color safely can prepare a larger removal without pushing a poor match closer to the exit.
A shot that leaves the play area without touching the chain increases its forward-speed multiplier. Missing is therefore more costly than losing the opportunity for one match: it also makes every following decision arrive sooner.
Levels and scoring
Level one begins with three available colors and a relatively short chain. Higher levels add balls, introduce more colors up to a maximum of six, change the route, and increase forward speed. A removal scores ten points per matched ball, multiplied by the current level and the active chain-reaction count.
removal score = matched balls × 10 × level × explosion combo
Successful removals less than one second apart increase the explosion combo. During the brief explosion window, the remaining chain moves backward; use that breathing room to inspect the new joins before taking the next shot.
Reliable tactics
- Aim for the center of a gap so the fired ball joins the intended side.
- Prioritize matches near the front when the chain is close to the exit.
- Keep short pairs of common colors available as anchors for future shots.
- Use the preview to avoid trapping an isolated color between two large groups.
Front-of-chain rule: when the lead ball is close to the exit, prefer a certain three-ball removal near the front over a speculative larger group farther back.
How the opening levels scale
The route changes with the level, so progression is not only a faster version of one board. The launcher also rotates between the left, top, right and bottom sides, changing which section of the chain has the cleanest firing angle.
| Level | Starting balls | Available colors | Base forward step | Launcher side |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 | 3 | 0.38 | Left |
| 2 | 14 | 4 | 0.46 | Top |
| 3 | 16 | 4 | 0.54 | Right |
| 4 | 18 | 5 | 0.62 | Bottom |
| 5 | 20 | 5 | 0.70 | Left |
| 6 | 22 | 6 | 0.78 | Top |
The forward-step figures are internal movement values used per animation frame, not seconds or pixels. They are included to make the relative increase explicit: level 6 starts at just over twice level 1's forward step before any missed-shot penalty.
Read an insertion before firing
A fired ball joins at the collision point and pushes every later ball forward by one diameter. Aim at the side of a group that keeps the matching colors contiguous. Hitting the wrong edge can place the new ball between unrelated colors and move the leading section closer to failure.
The safest preparation is usually a pair with open access from the launcher. A buried pair may look useful but can be difficult to reach once the route bends behind another section of the chain.
Progress and persistence
Finishing a level saves the next level and cumulative score in local storage on that browser. Losing submits the highest level reached and total score only when an optional nickname is present, then resets the local run to level 1. Guest play keeps the leaderboard out of the session.
The ranking compares level before score. Reaching level 5 with a modest score therefore ranks ahead of a level 4 run with more points, because sustained chain control is the primary result.
Common questions
Why did the chain move backward? A successful reaction creates a temporary retreat. Longer consecutive reactions increase that effect up to the game's cap.
What determines leaderboard order? Progress is compared by the highest level first and score second. Only a better result replaces the saved result for the same player name.
Can I play without sharing a result? Yes. Choose “Play as Guest” when the optional name panel appears.