How to Play Grumblings: Rules, Monster Moves and Tips for 3 Stars

By Nesim Razon, independent Android developer

Grumblings is a turn-based maze puzzle. You step through the maze to the glowing door, and after every step you take, the grumpy monster takes two. There is no timer and no luck: every level can be solved by planning ahead. This guide explains the rules, how the monsters decide where to go, and the tricks that make levels easy.

The rules in one minute

• You move one step (up, down, left or right) or wait in place.
• After your move, each monster takes two steps toward you.
• Walls block both you and the monsters. You win by reaching the glowing door.
• If a monster reaches you, it only tickles you. Undo and try again; there is no penalty.

How the monsters move

Every monster has an arrow on its belly. A monster with a sideways arrow moves horizontally first and then up or down. A monster with an up-down arrow does the opposite. If the preferred direction is blocked by a wall, the monster tries the other direction, and if both are blocked it stays where it is.

From later worlds, two monsters take turns: the first steps, the second steps, then the first and the second step again. A monster cannot step onto a cell where another monster stands.

The two best tricks

• Use walls: a monster that wants to move sideways but hits a wall has to go around or stay stuck. Lure it behind a wall and slip past.
• Wait on purpose: sometimes the best move is to stay put so the monster walks into a dead end. The Wait button counts as a move.
• Keep your distance: if you end your move more than two cells away from a monster, it cannot reach you on its next turn.

Tips for two-monster levels

• Watch which monster moves first: the order matters when both want the same cell.
• Make one monster block the other. A monster cannot pass through its friend.
• Separate them: lead the sideways monster one way and the up-down monster the other.

Getting 3 stars

Stars depend on how few moves you need compared with the shortest possible escape. Three stars means you found the shortest solution; two stars is a few moves more. Press and hold next to your hero to preview where the monsters will step before you commit, and use Undo freely to try ideas.