Car Out Level 2: First Obstacle

What Makes Level 2 Different

Level 2 builds directly on what you learned in Level 1 but introduces a critical new element: a large truck. This truck is typically positioned in such a way that it blocks the direct path of your target vehicle to the exit. The truck's length means it cannot simply be moved around like a car - you need to understand its position relative to all other vehicles on the grid.

In this level, you will typically find 6-8 vehicles including:

• Your target vehicle (usually positioned in the center-left area)
• One large truck (occupying 3 grid units)
• Several smaller cars (occupying 2 grid units each)
• The exit point (usually at the top of the grid)

Understanding Vehicle Sizes

Car Out features two primary vehicle lengths that you must understand:

In Level 2, the truck is your primary obstacle, but it is also the key to solving the puzzle. Your goal is to create enough space around the truck so it can be shifted, which will then expose the path for your target car.

Step-by-Step Solution

Follow this proven approach to solve Level 2 efficiently:

1. Identify the Blocking Vehicle

   Locate the large truck that is blocking your target car's path. Determine its orientation - is it horizontal (blocking left-right movement) or vertical (blocking up-down movement)?

2. Clear the Truck's Path

   Move any vehicles that are preventing the truck from being shifted. Trucks require more clearance due to their longer length. Look for cars at both ends of the truck's potential movement range.

3. Shift the Truck Aside

   Once the truck has a clear path, slide it along its axis to open a gap in the blocking formation. This creates room for your target car to maneuver toward the exit.

4. Guide Target Car to Exit

   With the truck successfully moved, you now have a clear path to the exit. Slide the target car directly to freedom and complete Level 2.

Why Moving the Truck First is Essential

A common mistake new players make in Level 2 is trying to move their target car first without addressing the truck. This approach fails because the truck is positioned to block the exit directly. Any car you move that is not the truck will likely just shuffle obstacles around without solving the fundamental problem.

The truck, despite its size, is actually quite mobile once you create the space for it. Think of the truck as a "meta-obstacle" - remove it, and all the smaller cars become trivial to arrange. This is a pattern you will see repeatedly in later levels.

Common Mistakes in Level 2

Preparing for Level 3

Level 2 teaches you that larger vehicles require a different approach. Level 3 will build on this by introducing multiple overlapping vehicles where the order of operations becomes critical. Before proceeding, make sure you are comfortable with the concept of identifying the primary obstacle and clearing its path.

Ready for a bigger challenge? Level 3 introduces multiple overlapping cars where determining the correct sequence of moves becomes essential.

Go to Level 3 Solution