---
id: wiki-2026-0508-magic-sort
title: "Magic Sort!"
category: 10_Wiki/Topics
status: verified
canonical_id: self
aliases: ["Magic Sort", "Sort Puzzle"]
duplicate_of: none
source_trust_level: B
confidence_score: 0.85
verification_status: applied
tags: [game-design, casual, puzzle, mobile, hypercasual, sort]
raw_sources: []
last_reinforced: 2026-05-10
github_commit: pending
tech_stack:
  language: design-pattern
  framework: casual-puzzle
---

# Magic Sort!

## 매 한 줄
> **"매 colored items 의 tubes/containers 의 across 매 sort"**. Magic Sort! 매 2021-2024 hypercasual sort puzzle 의 representative title — 매 pour-bottle / ball-sort / nut-sort 의 lineage 의 따라 매 satisfying haptic + clear win-state 의 deliver. 2026 매 hybridcasual era 매 meta-progression + LiveOps 의 layered.

## 매 핵심

### 매 Core Loop
- **Pour mechanic**: 매 source tube 의 select → matching-color top portion 의 dest tube 의 transfer.
- **Win condition**: 매 each tube 의 single color (or empty).
- **Constraint**: 매 dest tube 의 top color 매 source top color 와 match (or empty).

### 매 Layers (hypercasual → hybridcasual)
- 매 Layer 0: Pure puzzle (300+ levels).
- 매 Layer 1: Power-ups (extra tube, undo, bomb).
- 매 Layer 2: Meta-progression (themes, decoration unlock).
- 매 Layer 3: LiveOps events (timed leagues, gacha skins).

### 매 응용
1. Sort puzzle blueprint — Water Sort, Ball Sort, Nut Sort 의 same family.
2. Hybridcasual reference — 매 2024-2026 evolution model.
3. Difficulty curve study — 매 procedural level generator 의 case.

## 💻 패턴

### Tube state + pour move
```typescript
type Tube = string[]; // bottom-to-top color stack

function topRun(t: Tube): { color: string | null; count: number } {
  if (t.length === 0) return { color: null, count: 0 };
  const c = t[t.length - 1];
  let n = 0;
  for (let i = t.length - 1; i >= 0 && t[i] === c; i--) n++;
  return { color: c, count: n };
}

function canPour(src: Tube, dst: Tube, capacity: number): boolean {
  const s = topRun(src);
  if (s.color === null) return false;
  if (dst.length === capacity) return false;
  if (dst.length === 0) return true;
  return dst[dst.length - 1] === s.color && dst.length + s.count <= capacity;
}

function pour(src: Tube, dst: Tube, capacity: number): [Tube, Tube] {
  const s = topRun(src);
  const space = capacity - dst.length;
  const moved = Math.min(s.count, space);
  return [
    src.slice(0, src.length - moved),
    [...dst, ...Array(moved).fill(s.color)],
  ];
}
```

### Solver (BFS — 매 level validity check)
```typescript
function isSolved(tubes: Tube[], capacity: number): boolean {
  return tubes.every(t =>
    t.length === 0 ||
    (t.length === capacity && t.every(c => c === t[0]))
  );
}

function solve(initial: Tube[], capacity: number, maxDepth = 200): number | null {
  const seen = new Set<string>();
  const queue: [Tube[], number][] = [[initial, 0]];
  while (queue.length) {
    const [state, depth] = queue.shift()!;
    if (isSolved(state, capacity)) return depth;
    if (depth >= maxDepth) continue;
    const key = state.map(t => t.join(',')).join('|');
    if (seen.has(key)) continue;
    seen.add(key);
    for (let i = 0; i < state.length; i++) {
      for (let j = 0; j < state.length; j++) {
        if (i !== j && canPour(state[i], state[j], capacity)) {
          const next = state.map(t => [...t]);
          [next[i], next[j]] = pour(next[i], next[j], capacity);
          queue.push([next, depth + 1]);
        }
      }
    }
  }
  return null;
}
```

### Procedural level generator
```typescript
function genLevel(colors: number, capacity: number, extraTubes = 2): Tube[] {
  // 매 reverse generation: 매 solved state 의 from 매 random pours 의 unwind
  const solved: Tube[] = [];
  for (let c = 0; c < colors; c++) {
    solved.push(Array(capacity).fill(`c${c}`));
  }
  for (let e = 0; e < extraTubes; e++) solved.push([]);

  let state = solved;
  for (let i = 0; i < 50 + colors * 10; i++) {
    const moves = legalReversePours(state, capacity);
    if (moves.length === 0) break;
    const m = moves[Math.floor(Math.random() * moves.length)];
    state = applyReverse(state, m, capacity);
  }
  return state;
}
```

### Difficulty score (move-graph branching)
```typescript
function difficulty(level: Tube[], capacity: number): number {
  const optimal = solve(level, capacity);
  if (optimal === null) return Infinity;
  const branchingFactor = avgLegalMoves(level, capacity);
  return optimal * Math.log2(branchingFactor + 1);
}
```

### Power-up: extra tube
```typescript
function applyExtraTube(tubes: Tube[]): Tube[] {
  return [...tubes, []];
}
```

## 매 결정 기준
| 상황 | Approach |
|---|---|
| Hypercasual launch (CPI 의 minimize) | 매 pure mechanic + IAA 만 |
| Hybridcasual evolution | 매 meta + battle pass + LiveOps 의 layer |
| Brain-training positioning | 매 difficulty curve + procedural infinite levels |
| IP collab opportunity | 매 themed skins + limited gacha |

**기본값**: 매 2026 hybridcasual — pure mechanic + light meta + weekly events.

## 🔗 Graph
- 부모: [[Hybridcasual]]
- 응용: [[Live Operations (LiveOps)]]
- Adjacent: [[Capybara GO!]] · [[CPI (Cost Per Install)]]

## 🤖 LLM 활용
**언제**: Level theme brainstorming, tutorial copy, retention email variants.
**언제 X**: Solver / difficulty calibration (deterministic algorithm 의 superior), economy calibration.

## ❌ 안티패턴
- **Unsolvable levels**: 매 procedural generator 매 solver verification 의 absent.
- **Difficulty cliffs**: 매 monotonic difficulty 매 churn spike.
- **Forced ad walls**: 매 hypercasual 매 acceptable, hybridcasual 매 retention 의 destroy.
- **No win-state telegraph**: 매 player 매 solved 의 모를 — 매 satisfaction loop break.

## 🧪 검증 / 중복
- Verified (Sensor Tower hypercasual reports 2024-2025, Deconstructor of Fun, Naavik hybridcasual analyses).
- 신뢰도 B+.

## 🕓 Changelog
| 날짜 | 변경 |
|---|---|
| 2026-05-08 | Phase 1 |
| 2026-05-10 | Manual cleanup — sort puzzle mechanics, BFS solver, procedural generation |