How to Make Your Own Shaped Maze Game

Draw the exterior outline for the intended maze on a sheet of gridded graph paper, using a ruler. Select a simple geometric shape such as a square or rectangle that will outline the maze perimeter. Make the border using an odd number of squares along each edge.

Pencil in an X in each of the outermost grid squares that delineate the perimeter of your maze. Use light pencil marks that you can erase later or conceal with a colored marker.

Develop the grid pattern for the rest of the bordered area. Start with a blank square at the top leftmost row. Mark the next square with a dot in the middle. Alternate blank and dotted squares along the entire length of the row. Alternate dot- and X-patterned squares to complete the next row, again, starting at the leftmost square. Alternate these two patterns to fill in the remaining rows within the grid border.

Select one X square from among the perimeter squares to represent the entry point of the maze, and another X square on a different side of the grid to represent the exit point. Use only X's that are at the edge of a line. Erase the X's from the squares at these two positions.

Create a meandering pathway through the maze by erasing only squares with dots, starting at the entry point. Provide plenty of twists and turns along the way, and do not allow the path to cross itself. End the pathway at the exit point.

Add dead ends by noting where blank squares exist solitarily and off the main path. Locate blank squares and erase the dots and X's that lead from them to the main path. Repeat the process for as many stand-alone blank squares as possible.

Trace over the remaining internal X and dot squares using a marker to form the walls of the maze.