The Most Difficult Maze, Ranked

Choose the maze you think is the most difficult!

Author: Gregor Krambs
Updated on Apr 29, 2024 06:24
Many enthusiasts find themselves at the entrance of a complex maze, where every twist and turn can lead to a new challenge. Determining the most difficult maze is a subject of much debate, as the intricacies and puzzles presented vary widely. A comprehensive ranking of such mazes not only assists others in choosing which mazes might test their limits but also highlights the creativity and engineering behind these perplexing structures. This live ranking system invites you to cast your votes and influence the list based on your experiences and opinions. Whether you're an avid maze runner or just enjoy the occasional puzzle, your input is invaluable. By participating, you help shape a resource that guides and intrigues newcomers and veterans alike, making the big maze challenge a shared and interactive adventure.

What Is the Most Difficult Maze?

  1. 1
    78
    votes
    The Labyrinth of Crete
    Corvax · Public domain
    This ancient Greek mythological maze was designed by Daedalus to hold the Minotaur. Many people believe it is the most challenging maze ever created due to its complexity and size.
    The Labyrinth of Crete is an ancient mythical maze located near the city of Knossos in Crete. It is considered one of the most difficult mazes ever built.
    • Size: It covers an area of approximately 1,500 square meters.
    • Construction: It was constructed using intricate corridors and walls, designed to confuse and trap anyone attempting to navigate through it.
    • Entrances and Exits: The Labyrinth has a single entrance which leads to multiple paths, but only one path eventually leads to the exit.
    • Monster: It is said that the Labyrinth was designed to house the Minotaur, a mythical creature with the body of a man and the head of a bull.
    • Complexity: The maze was intentionally made complex with numerous dead ends and hidden passages to disorient those inside.
  2. 2
    40
    votes
    The Hampton Court Palace Maze
    Man vyi · Public domain
    This English hedge maze was created in 1700, and it is the oldest surviving hedge maze in the world. It is also one of the most challenging due to its twists and turns.
    The Hampton Court Palace Maze is a renowned maze located within the grounds of Hampton Court Palace in London, United Kingdom. It is one of the oldest surviving hedge mazes in the world and is known for its challenging layout and historical significance.
    • Hedges: Comprised of over 1,200 yew trees
    • Age: Over 300 years old
    • Size: Approximately 55,000 square feet
    • Paths: Consists of numerous dead ends and twists
    • Center Pavilion: Features an elevated platform with a gilded statue of a minotaur
  3. 3
    23
    votes

    The Maze at Longleat

    Adrian Fisher
    This massive English hedge maze covers 1.48 acres and has over 16,000 yew trees. It is one of the largest and most challenging hedge mazes in the world.
    The Maze at Longleat is a famous maze located in Longleat, Wiltshire, England. It is a well-known tourist attraction and has been challenging visitors since its creation.
    • Location: Longleat, Wiltshire, England
    • Creator: Adrian Fisher
    • Year of creation: 1975
    • Size: Around 1.48 acres
    • Number of paths: Over 2.7 miles of pathways
  4. 4
    24
    votes

    The Dole Plantation Maze

    Dole Plantation
    This Hawaiian pineapple plantation maze covers over two acres and contains over 14,000 plants. It is one of the most challenging and unique mazes due to its tropical setting.
    The Dole Plantation Maze is a famous corn maze located in Wahiawa, Hawaii. Covering an area of 3 acres, it is considered one of the most difficult mazes in the world. The maze is designed in the shape of a pineapple and provides an exciting challenge for visitors to navigate through its intricate pathways.
    • Size: 3 acres
    • Shape: Pineapple
    • Location: Wahiawa, Hawaii
    • Difficulty: Very challenging
    • Design: Intricate pathways
  5. 5
    12
    votes
    The Maize Maze
    Hugho226 · CC0

    The Maize Maze

    Maize Maze Enterprises
    This American corn maze covers over eight acres and changes every year. It is one of the most challenging mazes due to its size and constantly changing design.
    The Maize Maze is a renowned maze structure that is created using a vast field of maize crops. It is designed as a challenging labyrinth to test the skills and navigation abilities of participants.
    • Size: Can span up to 10 acres of land
    • Height: The maize crops can reach up to 8 feet tall
    • Complexity: Features intricate pathways and dead ends, demanding logical thinking and problem-solving
    • Themes: Multiple themes are available, including historical events, famous landmarks, and fantasy worlds
    • Obstacles: May include physical barriers and puzzles to increase the challenge
  6. 6
    9
    votes

    The Ashcombe Maze

    Adrian Fisher
    This Australian hedge maze covers over two acres and has many dead ends and tricky twists. It is one of the most challenging mazes in the Southern Hemisphere.
    The Ashcombe Maze is considered one of the most difficult mazes in the world. It is located in Australia and covers an area of 25 acres. The maze was created by Adrian Fisher, a renowned maze designer, and was opened to the public in 1975.
    • Location: Australia
    • Size: 25 acres
    • Opening Year: 1975
    • Difficulty Level: High
    • Number of Paths: Over 2 kilometers of winding paths
  7. 7
    4
    votes

    The Villa Pisani Labyrinth

    Francesco Maria Preti
    This Italian maze was designed in the 18th century and covers over two acres. It is one of the most challenging mazes due to its intricate design and many dead ends.
    The Villa Pisani Labyrinth is a famous maze located in the Renaissance gardens of Villa Pisani in Stra, Italy. It is considered one of the most difficult mazes ever created.
    • Size: 2,500 square meters
    • Design: Baroque-style pattern
    • Pathways: More than 3 kilometers
    • Hedges: Over 2 meters high
    • Difficulty: Challenging with dead ends and misleading paths
  8. 8
    13
    votes

    The Pineapple Garden Maze

    Oliver Ravenscroft
    This Scottish hedge maze is shaped like a pineapple and covers over half an acre. It is one of the most challenging mazes due to its unusual shape and many dead ends.
    The Pineapple Garden Maze is a highly intricate and challenging maze known for its perplexing pathways and lush surroundings. It is designed to test the problem-solving skills and patience of maze enthusiasts.
    • Size: 10,000 square feet
    • Number of Paths: Over 100
    • Difficulty Level: Expert
    • Theme: Tropical garden with pineapple motifs
    • Number of Dead Ends: 35
  9. 9
    9
    votes
    This American maze is made entirely of mirrors and is one of the most challenging due to its disorienting design. It is located in the Children's Museum of Indianapolis.
    The Mirror Maze is an extremely challenging maze constructed entirely of mirrored surfaces. Participants must navigate through a labyrinth filled with reflective glass panels, creating the illusion of endless hallways and identical paths. The aim is to reach the exit by following the correct direction amidst the confusion caused by the reflections.
    • Size: Medium to large
    • Difficulty Level: Expert
    • Number of Mirrors: Numerous
    • Layout: Complex and ever-changing
    • Pathways: Narrow and twisty
  10. 10
    5
    votes
    The Maze at Versailles
    C. Perrault · Public domain

    The Maze at Versailles

    André Le Nôtre
    This French hedge maze was designed in the 17th century and covers over 13 acres. It is one of the most challenging mazes due to its size and intricate design.
    The Maze at Versailles is a renowned historical maze located in the gardens of the Palace of Versailles in France. It was designed to challenge and entertain visitors with its intricate layout and puzzling paths.
    • Size: Around 2 acres
    • Path Length: About 2.5 kilometers
    • Hedges: Formed by hornbeam trees, trimmed to a height of around 10 feet
    • Divisions: Consists of eight principal divisions
    • Fountains: Contains several ornate fountains

Missing your favorite maze?

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Ranking factors for difficult maze

  1. Size
    Larger mazes are generally more difficult to navigate due to the increased number of paths and potential dead ends.
  2. Complexity
    The more twists, turns, and intersections a maze has, the more challenging it will be to find the correct path.
  3. Connectivity
    A maze that allows for many different paths and intersections between paths will be harder to navigate than one with limited options.
  4. Linearity
    The more linear and predictable a maze is, the easier it will be to solve. A maze with many surprise turns or sudden changes to the path will be more challenging.
  5. Symmetry
    If a maze features a symmetrical layout, it might be easier to find patterns and devise a strategy for navigating it. Asymmetrical mazes can be more challenging.
  6. Visual cues
    The presence of landmarks or other visual cues can help in navigating a maze. Mazes with fewer visual cues can be more difficult to solve.
  7. Dead ends
    The more dead ends a maze has, the harder it will be to find the correct path. Dead ends can be especially tricky when they are close to the solution, as it might be tempting to assume you're on the right track.
  8. Multiple solutions
    A maze with multiple possible solutions can be more challenging, as you'll need to figure out which one is the correct one.
  9. Time constraints
    Mazes become more difficult when there is a time limit imposed, forcing you to make decisions more quickly and possibly resulting in more mistakes.
  10. Starting and ending points
    The distance between the starting and ending points of a maze can affect its difficulty. A maze that requires traversing the entire layout before reaching the goal will generally be more difficult than one where the goal is easily accessible.

About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most difficult maze. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or Maze is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

  • 2076 views
  • 216 votes
  • 10 ranked items

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each Maze once every 24 hours. The rank of each Maze is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

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More information on most difficult maze

Mazes have been a popular form of entertainment and challenge for centuries, with their origins dating back to ancient Greece. A maze is a puzzle consisting of a complex network of paths or walls, with the goal being to navigate through it to reach the end. While some mazes can be relatively easy to solve, others can be extremely difficult and even impossible to complete without the right strategy and skills. From traditional hedge mazes to modern computer-generated designs, there are countless variations of this beloved puzzle. So, what is the most difficult maze? Let's explore some of the most challenging examples and find out.

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