How to Solve Box Pusher: Crate Puzzle Strategy

Box Pusher looks simple: push crates onto glowing spots. But you can only push, never pull, and only one crate at a time, so a single careless shove can make a level impossible. All 30 levels are solvable, and these principles will help you clear them and chase the fewest pushes.

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Know the dead squares

A crate pushed into a corner can never come out, so never push one into a corner unless that corner is a target. A crate against a wall can only slide along that wall, so only push it there if a target lies on the same wall. Before each push, ask whether the crate can still reach a target from its new square.

Avoid crate blocks

Two crates side by side against a wall cannot be separated, and four crates in a square can never move. Even two crates touching in the open can trap each other. Keep crates apart while you manoeuvre, and bring them together only when they are going straight onto targets.

Plan the order

Work out which crate has to go in last before you start. Targets deep in a corner or at the end of a corridor usually need filling first, because a crate placed early in the entrance would block the way. Think about where you, the worker, need to stand for each push too. A crate that is in the right place but blocks your path is a problem.

Think backwards

For a tricky crate, start at its target and ask which square it must be pushed from, and where you must stand to make that push. Then trace back toward where the crate is now. This reverse thinking often reveals a route that looked impossible when you only thought forwards.

Remember that walking costs nothing, only pushes matter for the best score. So take the long way round to reach the right side of a crate rather than making an extra push to make room. Clicking a floor tile walks you there automatically, which saves time on bigger levels.

Use Undo and go for Perfect Pusher

Undo and Restart are unlimited, so experiment freely. Once a level is solved, try it again with fewer pushes. Every level's minimum is known, and solving level 5 or higher in the fewest possible pushes earns the Perfect Pusher achievement. The best routes usually avoid pushing the same crate back and forth.

Questions

Can I pull a crate?

No. You can only push, and only one crate at a time. That is why planning matters.

I pushed a crate into a corner. What now?

Use Undo to step back, or Restart. A crate in a corner without a target can never be moved out.

Does walking around count against me?

No. Only pushes count toward the fewest-pushes record, so walk the long way round when it saves a push.

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