Mini Metro
Positives:
Though still in need of some refinement and balancing—and possibly some additional features—the core gameplay of Mini Metro scratches that city-building itch without requiring a major investment of time. You can play this on a break without worrying you’ll be sucked in for hours (though you won’t get bored if you did waste a day on it).
The interface is a case study in complex, context-sensitive functionality from simple interactions. Click, hover, drag and drag paths all combine to do just what you want without requiring a tutorial. Though you might spend your first game puzzling it out, it all just works how you’d expect on the first or second try. Pure, blissful affordance. If only more games thought out their interface so elegantly.
– Real player with 138.5 hrs in game
Read More: Best Puzzle Minimalist Games.
Mini Metro, currently available in Early Access (the game can be purchased but is still in development so some elements, such as sound in this case, are missing or unfinished), is a game about moving people. Where this may seem like an oversimplification, it is not, and the game is all the better for it. Other games of this sort focus on such elements as budget and specific regions, population density and specific destinations of interest to that population; but Mini Metro instead focuses on the general and the deliberately vague; and this works fantastically given the style of the game. There is no budget with which to be concerned, there are no apparent city divisions or districts. The placement of stations is random, and also out of the control of the player. In many ways, this almost makes the goal more true to life of a real world occupation, albeit without feeling like work: somebody is presenting the player with a scenario, and the goal is to make it work by connecting the stations, and keeping people moving.
– Real player with 38.0 hrs in game
Bridge Constructor Portal
I write this review as someone who had played Portal, but who had never played any of the Bridge Constructor titles. (I knew that games like it were out there, but I was unaware that this wasn’t the first ‘Bridge Constructor’ title released.) As such, the bridge constructor game concept was new to me. It was the Portal tie-in that piqued my interest. If this is you, then this review will be more relevant.
I’ve always enjoyed titles like this that challenge the intellect, without a ‘timer’ on it. I want something that my mind can chew on for a while. Much like chess, you need to think many ‘moves’ ahead to develop your strategy. Furthermore, the game does rely on a knowledge of basic physics. You don’t need a PhD in physics to play, although it wouldn’t hurt… lol Seriously though, they do offer some basic physics tips to help understand how and why certain designs work better than others.
– Real player with 100.0 hrs in game
Read More: Best Puzzle Simulation Games.
PolyBridge skills don’t fail me now
Oh the fun time building bridges so people can safely continue their travels. The trial and error it takes as you continue to test which parts work and which parts break under the pressure. Does each element work out for the better or will it cause people to die? And more importantly, will these vehicles be able to go through these portals?
When looking for a puzzle game that will test your mind constantly, you can’t go wrong with bridge construction games. With Bridge Construction Portal, this does not deviate with testing the mind. With the levels starting out easy to get the hang of things, each bridge jumps in difficulty throughout all 60 levels. The only difference between this and other bridge building games is the inclusion of Portal as instead of building a bridge that looks like everyday people would use when they travel, you’re in testing chambers. And instead of empty vehicles…well there may be people on them.
– Real player with 19.7 hrs in game
Evergarden
While it might seem like a simple/basic (ie easy) puzzle game, it’s actually pretty complex and takes skill/time to keep moving forward to get a better score/complete the achievements. But, the sometimes frustration of doing poorly in the puzzle area is made up for by beautiful graphics, nice music/sounds, and a very peaceful/(yes I know it’s contradictory to say) relaxing bit of game play. Basically, it’s a wonderful game to both look at and play, while also being difficult enough to where you feel accomplished completing an achievement yet not hard enough to make any of them unobtainable with practice.
– Real player with 40.9 hrs in game
Read More: Best Puzzle Exploration Games.
Evergarden (Puzzle)
Options include separate sliders for Music and SFX, Full-screen and Quality.
If you cannot interact with the game (clicking does nothing), make sure that there isn’t anything pushing on your controller, and the problem should be fixed.
Story:
There is an understated story that ties everything loosely together, but I can’t tell you much about it without giving things away. We will find a couple of notes that help, including this one from the very beginning of the game:
– Real player with 38.0 hrs in game
Hitman GO: Definitive Edition
Information
Title: Hitman GO: Definitive Edition
Developer(s): Square Enix Montreal
Publisher(s): Square Enix
Genre(s): Puzzle
Game Engine: Unity
Release Date: 23 Feb, 2016
Mode(s): Single-player
Review
+ Merits:
The PC definitive version of the game witnessed the removal of microtransactions, minor graphical improvements, and the touch screen is now replaced with the mouse. The game’s puzzles are smart and can be a bit challenging if the player seeks to complete the bonus objectives in each level. There is a wide variety of tactics to be considered while playing each board game, as each board has a unique theme with different tools and routes.
– Real player with 20.4 hrs in game
(I got this game for free from a friend)
Isn’t it strange when you come across a mobile game that doesn’t actually suck… but is instead fun and challenging? That’s what my experience with Hitman GO was like.
I vividly remember playing Hitman: Absolution a few years ago and feeling like the guy from this Youtube clip: $https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31g0YE61PLQ (you’ll have to copy and paste the url without the $ at the start because embedded Youtube videos tend to freeze the Steam client). Ok, it wasn’t that bad. But while both Hitman: Absolution and Hitman GO are not true Hitman games… the latter’s better for it. Unlike Hitman: Absolution, Hitman GO is a solid title that confidently knows what it wants to be and because of this it can stand strong on its own two feet.
– Real player with 17.5 hrs in game
Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes
This game is good, but it’s definitely not actually a 90 hour game despite my playtime. It’s a great game to sort of leave open and stop into occasionally through the day to play a level or two of the campaign.
Calling it a match 3 game is selling it short – your pieces are actually unique units with different abilities that level over time. Your units are arranged in a grid, and you can only move the unit on the bottom row. Match three of the same type vertically, and they will go into an attack formation which launches at your opponent in a few turns. Match three horizontally, and they will make a defensive wall. Different units have varying stats and abilities which can really change the way you play, and make it actually a reasonably involved puzzle figuring out how to best counter the enemy’s unit composition and layout. E.g. if they have a large special unit on the field, some of which require a match 5 to launch bu make up for it with huge damage, you might want to kill it off with a fast-attacking smaller unit first. Leveling units makes them more effective, but more of the strategy comes in selecting which units to actually include in your army – different units synergize together better than others.
– Real player with 119.8 hrs in game
Different addition to the Heroes of Might and Magic series. This time you have a strategy RPG mixed with puzzles and match 3 battles. And all of it works perfectly. Although the gameplay is in theory still the same = repetitive, it’s actually rather addictive and variable as the battles are changing, developing and can get pretty challenging. Diversion to the main story lines are bounty quests, puzzle challenges and artifacts scattered around. Also you can skip random fight encounters if you don’t want to waste time with small fishes, but they are a good sport to get your units leveled up.
– Real player with 115.7 hrs in game
BridgeFix 2=3-1
Perfect game to play while listening to podcast. Built in challenge of trying to improve your average time.
– Real player with 70.9 hrs in game
Nice, easy to get into puzzle game with loads of puzzles and a really nice ramp of difficulty.
– Real player with 57.9 hrs in game
Buzzle
Buzzle is a simple, small, 3D Puzzle game where you move the cubes up, down, left and right. The goal is to get the marked cube to the opening. There are also 40 levels to complete.
A small Note for the players:
The levels aren’t sorted in difficulty, meaning a level that is before one other level could be harder than the next one.
Controls:
**Move orange with:
W - Up
S - Down
Move pink with:
A - Left
D - Right**
**R - Restart
ESC - Pause**
Updates:
More Updates are coming in the future!
Chess Mega Bundle
Chess finally has its own 200-in-1 multicart. Atomic, 960, double 960, Horde, three-player and four-player chess - if you can name a chess variant, it’s probably in here.
The design is functional but very bare - you can pick different board and piece designs, but it’s missing a couple of niceties present in other chess clients. In particular, there’s no move list or analysis board, which is disappointing (if understandable – I don’t envy the person who has to figure out algebraic notation for a circular board). The sound effects are also missing alerts for captures or checks.
– Real player with 1.5 hrs in game
I have to things to say about this game.
Good point - It does have many Chess variants and many of them are played online at various Chess sites.
Bad point - The GUI for this game is in serious need of work if this game is to compete with similar programs already on the market that also offer many variants and in some cases are free. The GUI in my opinion does not look professional, especially when compared to other computer programs. If the GUI were dramatically updated I would consider changing my evaluation of this program.
– Real player with 0.2 hrs in game
Chip’s Challenge 2
I started playing the Windows version of Chip’s Challenge way back when I was five years old. It took a good three years to beat the game, but they were three very enjoyable years. Shortly afterward, around 1997 to 1998, I discovered a small online community dedicated to the game, which was buzzing about a potential sequel. Sadly, by the time its development was finished in 1999, the sequel never saw the light of day due to publishing problems. So that should give you an idea of just how much time fans have been waiting to see this game. In the meantime, the CC community grew and started developing its own official fan-made sequels to the original game in lieu of CC2, and CC developer Chuck Sommerville released a successor to his original called Chuck’s Challenge.
– Real player with 7943.2 hrs in game
It’s Chip’s Challenge 2, and I enjoyed it enough to play through the entirety all at once.
Took over 13 hours. Totally worth it.
Anyway, everything from the original returns here, as well as a huge pile of new elements that, though overwhelming at first, are definitely introduced at a reasonable pace. Some levels have time limits a bit on the short side for their puzzle (often these are bowling ball on rail puzzles) and there are quite a few more short time limit levels in the game: though these are more straightforward, where the time limit merely adds to the challenge rather than frustrates by running out of time right as you’re approaching the finish.
– Real player with 342.7 hrs in game
Clessidra
In this platform game you will have to overcome challenging puzzles using a weapon capable of rewinding the time of an object.
Objects
Destroy and rebuild objects to overcome obstacles, press buttons or block enemies.
Enemies
Harness the power of your weapon to control enemies and eliminate them.
Skeletons
Revive skeletons to use as bait or to press buttons.
Traps
Overcome ingenious traps of various types also thanks to your weapon.
