Arrow FlowHome / How to play
TutorialLearn it in one minute
Three tiny boards below use the real rules. Try each one, then go play the real thing.
Tap an arrow
Every arrow has a head. Tap the arrow and it slides out the way the head points, then it is gone. The counter with the little ↗ is how many arrows are left.
Try it: all three arrows here have a clear path.
Tap any arrow. They all have an open road.
Blocked? That costs a heart
If another arrow sits anywhere between the head and the edge, the slide fails. The arrow shakes and you lose one of your 3 hearts. Lose them all and the try ends, and you can retry from the start.
Try it: tap the left arrow first and watch it get stopped. Then clear the one in its way.
↗ 3Demo 2The left arrow points right. What is in its way?
Order matters
Big boards are chains of "this arrow waits on that arrow". Work backwards from the edge: find the arrow that is already free, clear it, and see what it unlocks.
Try it: only one arrow is free here. Find it and follow the chain.
↗ 3Demo 3One arrow is free. Which one?
Hearts left become stars
3 stars
Clear the board without a single blocked tap.
2 stars
Clear it after one blocked tap.
1 star
Clear it after two blocked taps. Replays can only raise your best.
Think like an arrow
Follow the head, not the tail
Pieces bend. The slide direction is always the way the head points, so trace from the head to the nearest edge.
Start at the edges
Arrows near the border usually have a short, clear road. Clear them first to open space.
Trace the blocker
When a tap fails, look at what stopped it. Then work out what that arrow needs. Chains are solved from the end.
Zoom before you tap
On big boards, pinch in to check a tiny head's direction. A zoomed look is cheaper than a heart.
Use the hint to learn
When you're stuck, one hint shows a free arrow. Ask yourself why it was free and the board opens up.
There's no clock
Pause, think and zoom around. Slow and accurate beats fast and blocked.
Common questions
What happens when I run out of hearts?
The try ends and you can retry the level from the start with a fresh set of 3 hearts.
Can I undo a move?
No. Once an arrow has slid away it's gone, so look before you tap. Restart is always there if you want a clean board.
Do the arrows only move in straight lines?
Yes. Pieces can be bent, but they always slide straight in the direction their head points.
Is there a time limit?
No timers at all.