One hint, if you're not already using it, is to make sure to use the 'wrapping' of the rows to your advantage -- they wrap left/right, and only fill with new blocks from the left side after making a column. Often you can save a run by setting up a leftmost or rightmost column over a couple turns.
The 'balanced' mode isn't a guarantee that you'll be able to always have a move. It's not an 'endless' mode, nor was that my intention. You absolutely can still block yourself in, it's the nature of the game :)
This looks fantastic, but I have to ask, do you have a license for this? Will this be free? Shadowgate is an active IP (most recent release was in 2021. and there was a Kickstarter in 2023 for a new game), and the rights holders might take umbrage with this project if you haven't received a license, especially if you want to charge for it.
I just don't want to see something bad happen! I love Shadowgate and really want this game to be great.
Can confirm I hit this same bug with level 47 last night. Catalog version. It happened multiple times.
Eventually I was able to trigger the end of the level by collecting the flower in the middle *last*. That was the only way I could get the level to end.
I wrote a hack of this called Alone in the Afterlife (https://gatesphere.itch.io/alone-in-the-afterlife) -- thanks so much for this wonderful, elegant game and encouraging creative remixing. You're awesome!
(Can't wait to back Stewpot soon -- looks like a blast.)
