Valvewise

Valvewise is a pipe puzzle on an old brick wall: turn copper pipes until water can run from the red valve to the glass gauge at the other end, before the one-minute clock runs out.

How to play

1. Press play on the start screen, then pick a level. Level 1 is open; each level you clear unlocks the next.
2. Turn a pipe: click or tap it. Every press turns it a quarter turn clockwise.
3. Connect the run: on levels 1 to 9 every pipe is part of the route. From level 10 on, some pipes are decoys that never carry water, so look for the route first.
4. Beat the gauge: the pressure needle climbs from the moment the level starts. Finish while it is low for three stars.
5. Clock: each level has one minute. When every pipe lines up, water runs through to the glass gauge and the result card appears. If the minute runs out first, the green water at the bottom of the wall rises over everything and a Try Again card appears.

What you see on screen

• Start screen: the VALVEWISE sign, the plumber in orange overalls and a play button.
• Level select: 30 green tiles on two pages, each showing the stars you earned.
• The board: a red valve and pressure gauge on the left, the copper pipes in the middle and the glass water gauge on the right.
• Top bar: the level number, the stars you can still get and the time left.

Tips

• Keep a steady pace. In our test a script that turned a pipe about every 0.7 seconds cleared levels 1 to 10 every time, while one that took about 2 seconds per turn ran out of time on level 4 or 5.
• Do not tap at random. Three runs of random taps on level 1, about 76 taps each, never finished the level.
• From level 10 on, trace the route from the valve first. Decoy pipes never count, and on level 10 only 17 of the 29 pipes are on the route.
• Read our pipe puzzle tips for the numbers behind these tips.

Frequently asked questions

How do I turn a pipe?

Click or tap it. Each press turns it 90 degrees clockwise, so four presses bring it back to where it started.

How many levels are there?

30. The first level has 13 pipes, the last has 45, and every level gives you one minute.

How are stars given?

By the pressure gauge, which climbs steadily while you work. By the game’s own rules, finishing in about the first 40 seconds gives three stars, up to about 53 seconds gives two, and after that one.

What happens when time runs out?

The green water at the bottom of the screen floods the wall and the level ends with a Try Again card. You can replay it at once.

Do I have to use every pipe?

Not always. On levels 1 to 9 every pipe is on the route. From level 10 on, some pipes are decoys: on level 16, 30 of the 43 pipes are not part of the route. Four-way crossings fit in any position.

Is my progress saved?

Your unlocked levels and stars are kept in your browser on this device. Nothing is sent anywhere.

Can I play on a phone?

Yes. Turn the phone sideways and tap the pipes to turn them.

Is Valvewise free to play?

Yes. You can play it in your browser on Yes This Game with no download and no sign-up.