Brainvita is the marble jumping puzzle that many of us know from the wooden board at home. This free version runs in your browser with no download or sign up, works on phones and computers, and keeps working offline once the page has loaded. Your goal is to leave a single marble, and the best place for it is the centre.
Inspired by: Peg solitaire, known in India as Brainvita.
How to play Brainvita
- The board starts with 32 marbles and one empty hole in the centre.
- Pick a marble. The holes it can jump to start to glow.
- Jump over a neighbouring marble, straight up, down, left or right, into the empty hole.
- The marble you jumped over is removed from the board.
- Keep jumping until no more jumps are possible. One marble left is a win, and one marble in the centre is a Genius result.
- Made a wrong move? Use Undo to take it back as many times as you like.
Controls
- Keyboard: Arrow keys move the dotted ring, Space or Enter picks a marble or a hole, X undoes the last jump.
- Mouse: Click a marble, then click a glowing hole. You can also drag a marble across.
- Touch screen: Tap a marble, then tap a glowing hole, or drag the marble to the hole. Use the Undo button to step back.
Tips to score higher
- Start from the outside and clear the edges first, keeping marbles near the centre for later.
- Try not to leave lone marbles far from the others. They cannot be jumped and they stay on the board.
- Think backwards. For a centre finish, your last jump must land in the middle.
- Use Undo to test an idea. It costs nothing and helps you learn how the board works.
The story behind Brainvita
Peg solitaire is a very old board puzzle, and a version with 33 holes in a cross shape has been popular in Europe since at least the 1600s. The story goes that it was played at the French court, and a board from that period is often shown in museums. In India the game became a household name as Brainvita, a marble board that came in a small box and sat on many shelves. Finishing with one marble in the centre was a proud moment that people liked to show off to the whole family. This version keeps that feeling with glassy marbles and a wooden board.
Questions players ask
Is Brainvita free to play online?
Yes. It is free, with no sign up, no download and no in-game purchases.
How do I win at Brainvita?
Leave just one marble on the board. You get the Genius result when that last marble sits in the centre hole.
Can marbles jump diagonally?
No. A marble can only jump in a straight line, up, down, left or right, over a neighbour into an empty hole.
Is it always possible to finish with one marble?
Yes. The classic board can be solved with one marble in the centre, but it takes careful planning.
Can I undo a jump?
Yes. Use the Undo button, or press X on a keyboard, to step back as many jumps as you want.