The Maze is the whole story of The Maze Runner. It keeps the children inside. Almost alive, The Maze torturs the kids for over two years with its moving puzzles and generating monsters that bite (called Grievers by the kids). To solve their problem each day the boys send out a team of 8 kids who they call Runners. The Runners go through the sections of the maze and map it. With this information they may be able to find an escape.
Essentially it's not actually The Maze that's holding them back. It's The Glade, their safe spot. Where they live and stay. Where they hide from the dangerous monsters. Where they get their silly of food. All at The Glade. The game creators noticed this and to further push the kids to really think about The Maze, escape, and hopefully freedom they manipulate it by taking away all the essentials The Glade have them.
The two above photos are maps. One is of The Glade and surrounding maze that the group of The Maze Runner are trapped in. The other map is for you! Bring out your inner 4 year old and see how fast you can solve it like the runners do!