Oddly Brilliant
A little nudge. A wonderfully unnecessary machine.
Arrange ramps, mesh gears, and connect ropes to turn an unlikely idea into a working chain reaction. Then open the workshop and make something of your own.
Make an inventionFree · No account · Play in your browser
Build an idea, then let it run
- Read the invention’s goal. A puzzle may ask you to deliver marbles, ring a bell, or pop a balloon. Fixed parts stay where they are.
- Place a part. Drag it from the toolbox, or choose it and tap the board. Select your placed part to move, rotate, flip, or remove it.
- Run the machine. Watch what happens. Pause to inspect a tricky moment; Stop returns you to the build so you can make another adjustment.
- Change one thing and try again. Use trails to follow a marble and forces to inspect a fan’s reach. A small hint can point you toward the next experiment.
Gears transfer rotation when their teeth meet. A belt connects two drive shafts; a rope connects eligible objects and can pass through a pulley. The in-game manual explains each toy.
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| Space | Run or pause the machine |
| R / E, Q | Rotate a selected part clockwise or counterclockwise; hold Shift for a larger step |
| Arrow keys | Move a selected part; hold Shift for a larger step |
| Delete, Ctrl / ⌘ Z | Remove a selected part, or undo a change |
Twenty problems. Room for your own solutions.
All 20 inventions are available from the notebook. Start at the beginning to learn ramps and momentum, then explore gears, balloons, ropes, and connected mechanisms.
Hints do not cost stars. Loading an example solution earns one practice star when completed; study the arrangement, then try your own solution. The free workshop opens the whole toybox for experiments without a prescribed puzzle.
Keep a copy of your invention
Puzzle progress, your current arrangement, and your workshop draft stay in this browser. Use Save invention in the free workshop for a local saved creation. Export a JSON file for a backup or to send to a friend; Import opens a compatible invention file.
Share a puzzle link or a snapshot of your workshop creation. An incoming invention opens with a preview and confirmation, and its edits stay separate from your own workshop draft. Share again to send a later version.
A friend builds and runs their own copy. This is a solo contraption game with no live shared workbench, account, or online leaderboard.
Play with a mouse or touchscreen
Use a mouse or choose parts and tap to place them on a touchscreen. A tablet, landscape screen, or desktop gives small gears and connection points more room for precise arrangements.
Sound is optional. Your saves belong to this game and are separate from every other game in the arcade.