Koolah is an English spelling of the Finnish word 'kuula' meaning the 'metal ball', that can't be squeezed and is used in the game as main protagonist.

The game's idea was taken from a children's board game, where one tries to guide a metal ball through a wooden maze without touching the ball. The ball is controlled with two knobs on the side of the maze. One of the knobs leans the maze horizontally and the other vertically. The route through the maze is drawn on it, but there are holes along the route that easily swallow the ball.