How to Play GearBotDash

Game Objective

Your goal is to guide the robot from the starting gear near the bottom of the board to the finish before the game timer reaches zero. You do this by creating conveyors between nearby gears.

Starting a Round

When a round begins, the robot appears on a starting gear. Nearby gears that can potentially be reached are highlighted. Study the board before making the first move because gear directions and reversal timers immediately matter.

Selecting Gears and Creating Conveyors

Select a nearby highlighted gear to create a conveyor from the robot's current gear to the selected destination. Both gears must be rotating in the same direction when the connection begins.

Clockwise connects to clockwise, and counterclockwise connects to counterclockwise. The robot's travel direction is determined by the destination you select, not by gear rotation.

Gear Reversal Timers

Most active gears periodically reverse direction. A countdown ring shows how much time remains before the next reversal.

Once the robot begins traveling, the two active gears are temporarily locked until the robot arrives. A reversal that becomes due during the trip waits until the conveyor trip is complete.

Queued Connections

While the robot is moving, you can select one upcoming reachable gear. This queues the next connection. When the robot reaches the current destination, the queued connection is checked using the gears' current directions.

If the directions still match, the robot continues. If they do not, the conveyor jams and a time penalty is applied.

Permanently Locked Gears

Permanently locked gears are disabled obstacles. They do not spin, do not reverse, and cannot be selected as a destination. They remain unavailable for the entire round.

Jams and Time Penalties

If you attempt to connect two gears rotating in opposite directions, the conveyor jams. The robot remains on the current gear and time is removed from the clock. The penalty depends on difficulty.

Waiting Is Allowed

The robot does not fall if you do not immediately select another gear. It waits safely on the current gear, but the game timer continues counting down.

Connection Range and the Finish

Gears can only connect when they are within the allowed connection range. The finish uses a shorter range than ordinary gears, so the robot must first reach a gear close enough for the final conveyor.

Difficulty Progression

GearBotDash begins on Easy. Winning advances you to the next difficulty, while losing keeps you on the current level. Harder difficulties may reduce time, shorten ranges, increase reversal speed, add obstacles, and increase jam penalties.

Statistics and Sound

Games played, wins, and losses are stored locally in the current browser. No account is required. GearBotDash also includes optional mechanical audio and sound effects controlled from the game interface.

Ready to Play?

Return to the GearBotDash game, or read the strategy guide for route-planning tips.