CubeAway Level 17 Guide: How to Clear the Cross-Shaped Puzzle

To beat Level 17 in CubeAway, strip the outer tips of all five cross branches before tapping any blocks near the center. Level 17 abandons the solid cube format of earlier stages, replacing it with a three-dimensional cross featuring a central hub and five projecting wings. Tapping inward-facing or center blocks early will cause collisions and waste moves.

Cross-Cluster Layout and Block Mechanics

The puzzle structure consists of four lateral arms and one top extension emerging from a central junction core. Arrow blocks on each arm point in two primary directions: outward into empty space, or inward toward the center.

• Outward arrows have unobstructed exit paths once you identify them at the edges of the branches.
• Inward arrows require an empty straight-line corridor across the entire axis. If the opposing wing or the center junction contains blocks, inward-pointing cubes will jam against them.

Dismantling the cluster requires peeling it from the outside in so interior arrows have open paths to fly through.

Step-by-Step Clearing Sequence

Follow this order to dismantle the structure without triggering directional jams:

1. Rotate around the perimeter: Spin the cluster horizontally to identify the extreme tips of the four lateral arms.
2. Remove unobstructed tip blocks: Tap every arrow block at the outer edges that points away from the central structure.
3. Clear the top vertical extension: Rotate the camera to inspect the top wing and clear its outward-facing perimeter cubes to expose the vertical core axis.
4. Identify and clear intermediate arm blocks: As the wings shorten, look for newly exposed arrows pointing outward or parallel to the arm.
5. Clear opposing arms symmetrically: If an arrow points inward toward the center, do not tap it until the opposing arm on that axis is completely clear of obstacles.
6. Unlock the central core: Once the branches are hollowed out, locate the central "key" block that points down an empty arm corridor. Tap it to break the core open, then remove the remaining blocks one by one.

Viewing Angles for Finding Hidden Blocks

Because the five arms project outward in three dimensions, blocks on one wing frequently block your view of arrows on another. Rotate the camera frequently using these viewing angles:

Never tap a block if its path appears partially obstructed by an adjacent wing. Rotate to an isometric angle to confirm that the flight trajectory is entirely open before committing your move.