Ball Sort – free online color sorting puzzle
Ball Sort
- ◈ Puzzle
- Desktop + Mobile
Free · No sign-up · Desktop & mobile
Ball Sort is a potion-lab colour puzzle where you sort balls until each test tube holds just one colour. It starts simple, then adds hidden balls, locked tubes, move limits, and a bigger bonus tube. There are 70 generated levels across seven labs, and every level is checked to make sure it can be solved. You can also play a daily puzzle that is the same for everyone.
How to play
Tap or click a tube to lift the top balls, then choose a target tube to pour them into. You can only pour onto the same colour or into an empty tube, and only when the target has room. Your goal is to sort the balls so each tube ends with one colour. Later levels add hidden balls that only show their colour when they reach the top. Some levels also include locked tubes that open after you complete any tube, move limits, and a bonus tube you can unlock with coins. Use undo if a move goes wrong, and hints if you want a nudge from the current position.
Controls
- Desktop: Click a tube, then click the target tube. Use arrows or 1-9 plus Enter to select. U undo, H hint, T extra tube, P pause.
- Mobile: Tap a tube, then tap the target tube.
Features
- 70 generated levels, each verified by a solver so it is always solvable
- Hidden balls, locked tubes, move limits, and a bonus tube in later stages
- Free undo, a hint based on the current position, and an extra tube for coins
- A daily puzzle that is the same for everyone
- 6 tube skins, 6 ball skins, and a colour-marks mode for colour-blind players
Tips & strategy
- Use empty tubes as temporary space, but keep at least one free if you can
- Pour onto a tube with the same colour first, since that reduces dead ends
- On locked-tube levels, complete one tube early to open up the board
- If you are chasing more stars, keep an eye on your move count and undo mistakes quickly
Progression
A good Ball Sort session is about building space before you need it. Start by looking for easy pours into tubes that already hold the same colour. Those moves are usually the safest, and they help you avoid trapping a colour under the wrong layer. When the board gets tighter, treat empty tubes as working space instead of waste. On levels with a locked tube, try to finish one full tube early so the lock opens and gives you more room. Hidden balls can change your plan once they reach the top, so pause and re-check the board before making long chains of moves. If you hit a bad state, undo is free, so use it instead of forcing a poor move.
About this game
Ball Sort is a carlogames game that runs in your browser on desktop and mobile. Your personal best is stored on your device only, and no personal data is collected.
FAQ
How does Ball Sort decide when a tube is finished, and what is the main goal?
In Ball Sort, you keep pouring balls until every test tube holds just one colour. The basic rule is to tap a tube, then pour into another tube only if it matches the top colour or is empty and has room. That is the core win condition.
What do hidden balls in Ball Sort do to the puzzle, and when do they matter?
Hidden balls are revealed only when they reach the top of a tube. That means a level can change as you clear layers, so it helps to pause and re-check the board before making longer move chains. They appear in later levels.
How do locked tubes work in Ball Sort, and how can they be opened?
Some levels include locked tubes that open after you complete any tube. The guide recommends finishing one tube early on these stages, because opening the lock gives you more room and can make the rest of the board easier to manage.
What is the bonus tube in Ball Sort, and how do you get it?
Later stages can include a bonus tube that you can unlock with coins. The features list also mentions an extra tube for coins. It is designed to give you more working space when the board gets tighter.
What makes Ball Sort different from a simple colour-sorting puzzle?
Ball Sort adds several twists beyond basic sorting: hidden balls, locked tubes, move limits, a bigger bonus tube, and a daily puzzle shared by everyone. It also has 70 generated levels across seven labs, and every level is checked to make sure it can be solved.