18
Zoo Link Dash
by ZotaGame0 likes0 plays
Race the clock to join look-alike animal tiles with paths of up to two bends, over 30 timed boards where the leftover tiles keep shifting.
What is Zoo Link Dash?
Zoo Link Dash is a timed link-the-pairs puzzle: you spot two identical animals and draw them together with a path that bends no more than twice, either through gaps on the board or around its border. Every board runs on a countdown, from 1:35 on the first to 5:30 at most, and quick pairs stack a combo worth up to 30 points each. After board 2 most boards add a shifting rule, so the tiles that stay behind fall, rise, drift sideways or squeeze to the centre once a pair disappears. With 120 critters across 10 themed chapters, it rewards sharp scanning over slow planning.
Updated
How to play Zoo Link Dash
Goal: Remove every animal tile in matching pairs before the countdown hits zero.
- Tap an animal, then tap its identical twin anywhere on the board.
- The two vanish only if a path with zero, one or two bends connects them through empty spaces or along the outside border.
- Watch the arrow beside your score: on most boards from 3 onward, the remaining tiles shift that way to fill each gap.
- Chain pairs less than 4 seconds apart to grow the combo; time left at the finish turns into bonus points.
- Stuck? Use one of 3 hints or 2 shuffles, and if no pair is possible at all the board re-deals itself at no cost.
Controls
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| Tap or click two animals | Join a matching pair |
| Arrow keys · Enter / Space | Move the cursor · select |
| H | Light up a pair that can link |
| S | Shuffle the remaining tiles |
| R · PEsc | Restart · pause |
Tips & tricks
- Scan the border first: any two twins sitting on the same outside edge can always meet through the open lane around the board.
- Do not chase a pair at the cost of the chain. A quick, easy link keeps the 4-second combo alive; past 10 steps each pair pays 30 points.
- On squeeze-to-the-centre boards, clear from the middle outward last, because outer tiles slide inward and open new straight paths.
- Hints never cost stars, so spend one on a crowded board rather than burning 20 seconds hunting for a pair.
- Stars only measure time: keep 40% of the countdown for 3 stars and 15% for 2.
Frequently asked questions
What counts as a valid path in Zoo Link Dash?
A path made of up to three straight lines, so it bends at most twice, and it may only cross empty squares. It is allowed to step outside the board and follow the empty border. If two matching animals need a third bend to meet, the game refuses the pair and shows a short message under the board.
Do tiles move around in Zoo Link Dash?
On most boards, yes. Except for boards 1, 2 and 6, each board has a shifting rule shown by an arrow beside the score: tiles fall, rise, slide to one side, or squeeze toward or away from the centre whenever a pair is cleared. The first board with a new rule pops up a short card that explains it.
How does the combo work in Zoo Link Dash?
Clear a pair less than 4 seconds after the previous one and the combo climbs by one. A plain pair is worth 10 points and every combo step adds 2 more, up to 30 points per pair after ten steps. Wait longer than 4 seconds and the chain starts over at the next pair.
Can a Zoo Link Dash board get stuck with no moves?
It can run out of possible paths, but you are never trapped. When no pair can be joined, the board automatically re-deals the remaining animals onto the same squares until at least one path exists. This free re-deal is separate from the two Shuffle uses you get on every board.
How long is each board in Zoo Link Dash?
The countdown is set board by board. The first board gives 1:35, the longest gives 5:30, and the final board gives 4:45 for 96 tiles. The timer freezes while a menu or the pause screen is open, flashes red below 15 seconds and ticks during the last 10.
Who is the robot next to the board in Zoo Link Dash?
That is Bolt, the ZotaGame host. Bolt hops when you build a combo, wobbles when the board reshuffles or the time runs out, and cheers on the results screen. Bolt is only a companion, so the rules, timers and scores are the same as without a host.
