How to solve Sokoban levels in 3.3.1?

[Note: The Sokoban map did not change in 3.4.0 or 3.4.1, and this spoiler accordingly remains valid.]

by Boudewijn Waijers (kroisos@win.tue.nl),
with contributions by various others.

HTML Conversion by Kate Nepveu (knepveu@steelypips.org).
Created March 5, 2001.

Contents

Boulders are represented by capital letters (A, B, ...), to be able to reference them. To refer to a position on the map, the co-ordinates shown on top and on the left of the map in (X,Y) format are used. For example, the starting position on level 1, version A, is (7,5).

If you are told to finish several boulders, you should finish them in the order in which they are mentioned.

There are other solutions, for sure. Quite possibly there are faster solutions. I haven't counted the number of moves needed for any of the below solutions. If you have faster solution, don't hesitate to use it.

Note that the Sokoban levels have other internal numbers than the ones that are used below, but starting with level 4 is quite confusing, even if you are moving up, not down. Here, level 1 is the first level you'll see in your game and level 4 is the last one, with the reward.

A general tip: after you've finished a level, push all boulders that are left into corners where they are harmless. You wouldn't want yourself to accidentally move them when going back later and lock you in. Also, there might be something lying underneath them.

Here is an overview of the Sokoban levels:

[Note: Links are to the solutions.]

     Level 1, version A.                   Level 1, version B.

       +----+  +---+                         +------+ +----+
       |....|  |...|                         |<|@...+-+....|
       |.A..+--+.B.|                         |^|+.AB....C..|
       |.C......D..|                         |^||..DE|.F.G.|
       |..+-+@+-+E.|                         |^||....|.....|
       +------+-+.--+                        |^|+----+H----|
       |..^^^<|.....|                        |^|    |......|
       |..+---|F....|                        |^+----+......|
       ++^|   |.G...|                        |..^^^^IJKL...|
        |^+---+.H...|                        |..+---+......|
        |..^^^^I.J..|                        +--+   +------+
        |..+--------+
        +--+


     Level 2, version A.                   Level 2, version B.

+---------+       +---------+           +--+          +---------+
|....|....+-+     |.........|          ++.@+------+   |.........|
|..AB|CD...@|     |.........|          |..........|   |.........|
|.....E...+-+     |.........|          |.A+---+B-.|   |.........|
|....|....|       |....<....|          |..|...|.C.|   |....<....|
+-.--+-----+      |.........|          |.D.E....F-|   |.........|
|..F.|.....|      |.........|          |.G..H..|..|   |.........|
|.GH.|I.J.K|      |.........|          |.----I.++.|   |.........|
|..L.....M.|      |.........|          |..J...K.|.++  |.........|
|.NOP|Q..R.+---------------+|          |.--+L-...M.+-----------+|
|....|..S.T.^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^.|          |...|..N-.O.^^^^^^^^^^^^.|
+---------------------------+          |..P......+--------------+
                                       +---+..|..|
                                           +-----+


     Level 3, version A.                   Level 3, version B.

    +------------------+                    +------+
    |........|...|.....|                  +-+.|....|
    |.AB..-CD|.-.|.....|                  |...A....+---------+
    |..|.E.F.|GH.|.....|                  |.-.BC-DE|.|.......|
    |-.|..-..|.-.|..<..|                  |.FG-......|.......|
    |...+-.......|.....|                  |.-..H.|...|.......|
    |...|.I.-...+|.....|                  |....-I+-J-|.......|
    |.J.|K.|...++|.....|                  |..KL..M...|...<...|
    |-L.|..+----------+|                  |.--...|...|.......|
    |..M....^^^^^^^^^^.|                  |....-N+---|.......|
    |...|.@+-----------+                  +-+..O.+----------+|
    +------+                                |..P@^^^^^^^^^^^.|
                                            +----------------+


     Level 4, version A.                   Level 4, version B.

 +------------------------+              +----------------------+
 |@......^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^.|              |..^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^..|
 |.......+--------------+.|              |..+-----------------+.|
 +------.+----+         |.|            +--+.|                 |.|
  |...........|         |.|            |..|A++  +----+        |.|
  |.A.B.C.D.E.|         |.|            |.....+--|.N..|        |.|
 +-------.----|         |.|            |.BC..|..|..O.|        |.|
 |...F.G..H.I.|         |.|            ++..DE|...PQ.++        |.|
 |...J........|         |.|             |F..G...|R..|   +-----|.|
 +----.-------+   +-----|.|             |.HI.|..|..S| +-|.....|.|
  |..K.L.M...|  +-|.....|.|             |.J.K+--|.T.| |.+.....|.|
  |.....N....|  |.+.....|.|             |.......|..++ +-|.....|.|
  |.O.P...Q.++  +-|.....|.|             +--+.L..|.++  |.+.....+.|
 +------.---+   |.+.....+.|                +--.-+.|   +-|.....+-+
 |..R.....|     +-|.....+-+                 |.M...|   |.+.....|
 |........|     |.+.....|                   |@.|..|   +-|.....|
 |...+----+     +-|.....|                   +-----+     +-----+
 +---+            +-----+

Here are the solutions to the levels:

Level 1, version A.

            11111   
   12345678901234
 1 +----+  +---+
 2 |....|  |...|
 3 |.A..+--+.B.|
 4 |.C......D..|
 5 |..+-+@+-+E.|
 6 +------+-+.--+
 7 |..^^^<|.....|
 8 |..+---|F....|
 9 ++^|   |.G...|
10  |^+---+.H...|
11  |..^^^^I.J..|
12  |..+--------+
13  +--+
  1. Push A right one square.
  2. Push C up one square.
  3. Push D right one square.
  4. Push D left to (4,4).
  5. Push E down to (11,8).
The map now looks like this: 
            11111   
   12345678901234
 1 +----+  +---+
 2 |....|  |...|
 3 |.CA.+--+.B.|
 4 |..D........|
 5 |..+-+>+-+..|
 6 +------+-+.--+
 7 |..^^^<|..@..|
 8 |..+---|F.E..|
 9 ++^|   |.G...|
10  |^+---+.H...|
11  |..^^^^I.J..|
12  |..+--------+
13  +--+
  1. Push H left one square.
  2. Finish I, J, E, G, H, F, B, D, and C.

One boulder (A) remains. The two scrolls at (3,12) and (4,12) are always scrolls of earth.

Level 1, version B.

            111111   
   123456789012345
 1 +------+ +----+
 2 |<|@...+-+....|
 3 |^|+.AB....C..|
 4 |^||..DE|.F.G.|
 5 |^||....|.....|
 6 |^|+----+H----|
 7 |^|    |......|
 8 |^+----+......|
 9 |..^^^^IJKL...|
10 |..+---+......|
11 +--+   +------+
  1. Push A down one square.
  2. Push B right to (11,3).
  3. Push H down to (10,8).
  4. Push J up one square.
  5. Finish I.
  6. Push L up one square.
  7. Finish K, J, H and L.
The map now looks like this: 
            111111   
   123456789012345
 1 +------+ +----+
 2 |<|>...+-+....|
 3 |^|+......BC..|
 4 |^||.ADE|.F.G.|
 5 |^||....|.....|
 6 |^|+----+.----|
 7 |^|    |......|
 8 |.+----+......|
 9 |@............|
10 |..+---+......|
11 +--+   +------+
  1. Push C down one square.
  2. Push B left to (6,3).
  3. Push G down one square, then left to (10,5).
  4. Finish G.
  5. Finish C and F like G.
  6. Move B right to (11,3), then down two squares, then left to (10,5).
  7. Finish B.
  8. Move A up one square.
  9. Finish A like B.

Two boulders (D and E) remain. The two scrolls at (2,10) and (3,10) are always scrolls of earth.

Level 2, version A.

            11111111112222222222   
   12345678901234567890123456789
 1 +---------+       +---------+
 2 |....|....+-+     |.........|
 3 |..AB|CD...@|     |.........|
 4 |.....E...+-+     |.........|
 5 |....|....|       |....<....|
 6 +-.--+-----+      |.........|
 7 |..F.|.....|      |.........|
 8 |.GH.|I.J.K|      |.........|
 9 |..L.....M.|      |.........|
10 |.NOP|Q..R.+---------------+|
11 |....|..S.T.^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^.|
12 +---------------------------+
  1. Push E left to (3,4).
  2. Push L right to (9,9).
  3. Push R right one square.
  4. Finish T, S, M, R, K, J, and L.
  5. Finish N, O, P, G, and E.
  6. Push F left one square.
  7. Finish H.
  8. Push F up to (3,4).
  9. Finish F and A.

Five boulders (B, C, D, I, and Q) remain.

Level 2, version B.

            11111111112222222   
   12345678901234567890123456
 1  +--+          +---------+
 2 ++.@+------+   |.........|
 3 |..........|   |.........|
 4 |.A+---+B-.|   |.........|
 5 |..|...|.C.|   |....<....|
 6 |.D.E....F-|   |.........|
 7 |.G..H..|..|   |.........|
 8 |.----I.++.|   |.........|
 9 |..J...K.|.++  |.........|
10 |.--+L-...M.+-----------+|
11 |...|..N-.O.^^^^^^^^^^^^.|
12 |..P......+--------------+
13 +---+..|..|
14     +-----+
  1. Push B down two squares.
  2. Push C left one square.
  3. Push P right three squares, then up one square, to (7,11).
  4. Finish O.
  5. Push N down one square, then left to (3,12).
  6. Push M left one square.
  7. Push F up one square.
  8. Push B left two squares.
  9. Push K down two squares.
The map now looks like this: 
            11111111112222222   
   12345678901234567890123456
 1  +--+          +---------+
 2 ++.>+------+   |.........|
 3 |..........|   |.........|
 4 |.A+---+.-.|   |.........|
 5 |..|...|CF.|   |....<....|
 6 |.D.E.B...-|   |.........|
 7 |.G..H..|..|   |.........|
 8 |.----I.++.|   |.........|
 9 |..J.....|.++  |.........|
10 |.--+L-@.M..+-----------+|
11 |...|.PK-....^^^^^^^^^^^.|
12 |.N.......+--------------+
13 +---+..|..|
14     +-----+
  1. Push M right one square, then down to (11,11).
  2. Finish M.
  3. Push N right to (10,12), then up to (10,10).
  4. Finish N like M.
  5. Push K down one square, then left to (3,12).
  6. Finish K like N.
  7. Push P right one square, then down one square.
  8. Finish P like N.
  9. Push L down two squares, then left to (3,12).
  10. Finish L like N.
  11. Push I down one square, then right one square, then down to (8,12).
  12. Finish I like N.
  13. Push J right to (8,9), then down to (8,12).
  14. Finish J like N.
The map now looks like this: 
            11111111112222222   
   12345678901234567890123456
 1  +--+          +---------+
 2 ++.>+------+   |.........|
 3 |..........|   |.........|
 4 |.A+---+.-.|   |.........|
 5 |..|...|CF.|   |....<....|
 6 |.D.E.B...-|   |.........|
 7 |.G..H..|..|   |.........|
 8 |.----..++.|   |.........|
 9 |........|.++  |.........|
10 |.--+.-.....+-----------+|
11 |...|...-.........@.^^^^.|
12 |.........+--------------+
13 +---+..|..|
14     +-----+
  1. Push H left one square.
  2. Push B down one square, then right one square, then down to (8,12).
  3. Finish B.
  4. Push C down one square, then left two squares, to (7,6).
  5. Finish C like B.
  6. Push F left one square, then down one square, then left to (7,6).
  7. Finish F like C.
  8. Push G right one square.
  9. Push D up one square.
  10. Push E right two squares, to (7,6).
  11. Finish E like F.

Four boulders (A, D, G and H) remain.

Level 3, version A.

            11111111112   
   12345678901234567890
 1 +------------------+
 2 |........|...|.....|
 3 |.AB..-CD|.-.|.....|
 4 |..|.E.F.|GH.|.....|
 5 |-.|..-..|.-.|..<..|
 6 |...+-.......|.....|
 7 |...|.I.-...+|.....|
 8 |.J.|K.|...++|.....|
 9 |-L.|..+----------+|
10 |..M....^^^^^^^^^^.|
11 |...|.@+-----------+
12 +------+
  1. Push M left one square.
  2. Finish M.
  3. Push J right one square.
  4. Finish L, J, A and B.
  5. Push D down to (9,6).
  6. Finish I.
  7. Push K down two squares, then left to (3,10).
  8. Finish K.
  9. Push E up one square.
  10. Push F right one square, then up one square, to (9,3).
  11. Push E down one square, then left one square, to (5,4).
  12. Push E up one square, then left two squares.
  13. Finish E.
  14. Push C down one square, then left three squares, to (5,4).
  15. Finish C like E.
  16. Push D right two squares, then left to (8,6).
  17. Push D up two squares, then left to (5,4).
  18. Finish D like E.

Three boulders (F, G and H) remain.

Level 3, version B.

            11111111112   
   12345678901234567890
 1   +------+
 2 +-+.|....|
 3 |...A....+---------+
 4 |.-.BC-DE|.|.......|
 5 |.FG-......|.......|
 6 |.-..H.|...|.......|
 7 |....-I+-J-|.......|
 8 |..KL..M...|...<...|
 9 |.--...|...|.......|
10 |....-N+---|.......|
11 +-+..O.+----------+|
12   |..P@^^^^^^^^^^^.|
13   +----------------+
  1. Push O left two squares, to (4,11).
  2. Finish P and N.
  3. Push L down one square, to (5,9).
  4. Push O up one square, to (4,10).
  5. Finish L.
  6. Push K right one square, to (5,8).
  7. Finish K.
  8. Push O right one square, to (5,10).
  9. Finish O.
The map now looks like this: 
            11111111112   
   12345678901234567890
 1   +------+
 2 +-+.|....|
 3 |...A....+---------+
 4 |.-.BC-DE|.|.......|
 5 |.FG-......|.......|
 6 |.-..H.|...|.......|
 7 |....-I+-J-|.......|
 8 |......M...|...<...|
 9 |.--...|...|.......|
10 |....-.+---|.......|
11 +-+....+----------+|
12   |...>...@.^^^^^^.|
13   +----------------+
  1. Push G down to (4,8), then one square right, to (5,8).
  2. Finish G.
  3. Push F one square right.
  4. Finish F like G.
  5. Push M two squares right, to (10,8), then left to (5,8).
  6. Finish M.
  7. Push J up two squares, to (10,5).
  8. Finish I.
  9. Push H right one square.
  10. Finish H.
  11. Push A right two squares, to (7,3).
  12. Push C down two squares, to (6,6).
  13. Finish C like H.

Five boulders (A, B, D, E and J) remain.

Level 4, version A.

            11111111112222222   
   12345678901234567890123456
 1 +------------------------+
 2 |@......^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^.|
 3 |.......+--------------+.|
 4 +------.+----+         |.|
 5  |...........|         |.|
 6  |.A.B.C.D.E.|         |.|
 7 +-------.----|         |.|
 8 |...F.G..H.I.|         |.|
 9 |...J........|         |.|
10 +----.-------+   +-----|.|
11  |..K.L.M...|  +-|.....|.|
12  |.....N....|  |.+.....|.|
13  |.O.P...Q.++  +-|.....|.|
14 +------.---+   |.+.....+.|
15 |..R.....|     +-|.....+-+
16 |........|     |.+.....|
17 |...+----+     +-|.....|
18 +---+            +-----+
  1. Push A left one square.
  2. Push B left one square.
  3. Push C left one square.
  4. Push E right one square.
  5. Push D right one square.
  6. Push G to (9,8), then up three squares, then left one square.
  7. Finish G.
  8. Finish H and I like G.
  9. Push J left two squares, to (3,9).
  10. Finish F like G.
  11. Push N right three squares, to (11,12).
  12. Push L to (6,11), then up three squares.
  13. Finish L like G.
  14. Finish M and K like L.
  15. Push N left three squares, then up one square, to (8,11).
  16. Finish N like L.

The map now looks like this:

 
            11111111112222222
   12345678901234567890123456   
 1 +------------------------+
 2 |>............@.^^^^^^^^.|
 3 |.......+--------------+.|
 4 +------.+----+         |.|
 5  |...........|         |.|
 6  |A.B.C...D.E|         |.|
 7 +-------.----|         |.|
 8 |............|         |.|
 9 |.J..........|         |.|
10 +----.-------+   +-----|.|
11  |..........|  +-|.....|.|
12  |..........|  |.+.....|.|
13  |.O.P...Q.++  +-|.....|.|
14 +------.---+   |.+.....+.|
15 |..R.....|     +-|.....+-+
16 |........|     |.+.....|
17 |...+----+     +-|.....|
18 +---+            +-----+
  1. Push R to (8,15), then up four squares.
  2. Finish R like L.
  3. Push Q to (8,13), then down three squares, then left to (3,16).
  4. Push Q up one square.
  5. Finish Q like R.
  6. Finish P and O like Q.
  7. Push J to (6,9), then down three squares.
  8. Finish J like L.
  9. Push C to (9,6), then down three squares.
  10. Finish C like J.
  11. Finish B and D like C.

Two boulders (A and E) remain.

There is a bag of holding in one of the small chambers ((17,12), (17,14) or (17,16)) next to the treasure zoo.

Level 4, version B.

            11111111112222222   
   12345678901234567890123456
 1   +----------------------+
 2   |..^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^..|
 3   |..+-----------------+.|
 4 +--+.|    +---+        |.|
 5 |..|A++  ++...|        |.|
 6 |.....+--|.N..|        |.|
 7 |.BC..|..|..O.|        |.|
 8 ++..DE|...PQ.++        |.|
 9  |F..G...|R..|   +-----|.|
10  |.HI.|..|..S| +-|.....|.|
11  |.J.K+--|.T.| |.+.....|.|
12  |.......|..++ +-|.....|.|
13  +--+.L..|.++  |.+.....+.|
14     +--.-+.|   +-|.....+-+
15      |.M...|   |.+.....|
16      |@.|..|   +-|.....|
17      +-----+     +-----+
  1. Push M right three squares, then up four squares.
  2. Push T up one square.
  3. Push S up two squares.
  4. Push Q up one square.
  5. Push P left three squares.
  6. Push G left two squares.
  7. Push D up two squares, then left one square.
  8. Finish A.
  9. Push B up one square.
  10. Push C right one square.
  11. Finish C.
  12. Push B down one square.
The map now looks like this: 
   
            11111111112222222   
   12345678901234567890123456
 1   +----------------------+
 2   |....^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^..|
 3   |..+-----------------+.|
 4 +--+.|    +---+        |.|
 5 |..|.++  ++...|        |.|
 6 |.@D..+--|.N..|        |.|
 7 |.B...|..|.QO.|        |.|
 8 ++...E|P....S++        |.|
 9  |FG.....|R..|   +-----|.|
10  |.HI.|..|.T.| +-|.....|.|
11  |.J.K+--|M..| |.+.....|.|
12  |.......|..++ +-|.....|.|
13  +--+.L..|.++  |.+.....+.|
14     +--.-+.|   +-|.....+-+
15      |.....|   |.+.....|
16      |>.|..|   +-|.....|
17      +-----+     +-----+
  1. Push D right one square.
  2. Finish D.
  3. Push B right two squares.
  4. Finish B.
  5. Finish I.
  6. Push E down one square, then left one square.
  7. Finish E.
  8. Push F up three squares, then right two squares.
  9. Finish F.
The map now looks like this: 
            11111111112222222   
   12345678901234567890123456
 1   +----------------------+
 2   |.......@.^^^^^^^^^^^..|
 3   |..+-----------------+.|
 4 +--+.|    +---+        |.|
 5 |..|.++  ++...|        |.|
 6 |.....+--|.N..|        |.|
 7 |.....|..|.QO.|        |.|
 8 ++....|P....S++        |.|
 9  |.G.....|R..|   +-----|.|
10  |.H..|..|.T.| +-|.....|.|
11  |.J.K+--|M..| |.+.....|.|
12  |.......|..++ +-|.....|.|
13  +--+.L..|.++  |.+.....+.|
14     +--.-+.|   +-|.....+-+
15      |.....|   |.+.....|
16      |>.|..|   +-|.....|
17      +-----+     +-----+
  1. Push G right one square.
  2. Finish G.
  3. Finish H and J like G.
  4. Push P down one square, then left three squares, to (5,9).
  5. Finish P.
  6. Push K to (6,9), then left one square.
  7. Finish K.
  8. Push L right one square, then up one square, then left two squares.
  9. Finish L like K.
The map now looks like this: 
            11111111112222222   
   12345678901234567890123456
 1   +----------------------+
 2   |.............@.^^^^^..|
 3   |..+-----------------+.|
 4 +--+.|    +---+        |.|
 5 |..|.++  ++...|        |.|
 6 |.....+--|.N..|        |.|
 7 |.....|..|.QO.|        |.|
 8 ++....|.....S++        |.|
 9  |.......|R..|   +-----|.|
10  |....|..|.T.| +-|.....|.|
11  |....+--|M..| |.+.....|.|
12  |.......|..++ +-|.....|.|
13  +--+....|.++  |.+.....+.|
14     +--.-+.|   +-|.....+-+
15      |.....|   |.+.....|
16      |>.|..|   +-|.....|
17      +-----+     +-----+
  1. Push T down one square.
  2. Push R to (11,8), then left three squares.
  3. Finish R like P.
  4. Finish M like R.
  5. Push T left one square.
  6. Finish T like R.
  7. Push N right one square.
  8. Push Q down to (12,9), then left one square.
  9. Finish Q like R.
  10. Push N left one square.
  11. Finish N like Q.

Two boulders (O and S) remain.

There is an amulet of reflection in one of the small chambers ((17,11), (17,13) or (17,15)) next to the treasure zoo.

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