PUZZLE GAMES
Strategy games and visuo-spatial puzzles might just seem an enjoyable way to pass the time, but they can also aid the development of creative problem-solving skills and help build resilience. Some puzzle games require players to experiment without any knowledge of the outcome, encouraging an explorative 'what happens if...?' mentality. Others require a more careful, strategical analysis of the situation and a 'what do I know, where do I need to get to?' approach.
On this page I list some of my favourite iOS puzzle games (other operating systems are available!) along with a short description of each. Click on the logos to learn more.
And please do contact me with any suggestions for inclusion.
On this page I list some of my favourite iOS puzzle games (other operating systems are available!) along with a short description of each. Click on the logos to learn more.
And please do contact me with any suggestions for inclusion.
Ten
Basically a (second iteration) fractal version of Noughts and Crosses (Tic-Tac-Toe). Each space on the main three-by-three grid is itself another three-by-three grid, so that to win the grid space, you must win its game. Exponentially raises the level of strategic play required! Available on iOS. Free |
Folt
A simple but tricky puzzle game. Flip the colour-changing tiles to match up and collect them, while completing the challenge before running out of space. Knowledge of incoming tile colours allows you to plan three moves ahead. Still, one that's difficult to master. Available on iOS and Android. Free |
Hearts
I love this game! Such a simple premise: collect the hearts by knocking them out with the dot. However, with a tight limit on the number of moves, strategic thinking becomes essential. Minimalist, pretty, easy to pick up, and very hard to put down. Available on iOS. *NB the current version of the app seems to suffer from a freezing issue. Free |
Blenduko
An unusual, aesthetically-pleasing puzzle game based on placing coloured blocks into grids organised by hue and saturation. Starts off easy enough but soon becomes very challenging. For more information on the mathematics of colour sorting see this article. Available on iOS and Android. Free |
Hook
Another simple puzzle game idea that seems almost too easy at the start, but soon gets satisfyingly difficult. Can you undo the increasingly complex networks of hooks by retracting them one at a time in the correct order? Look very closely; not as straightforward as it seems! Available on iOS, Windows Phone, Android and Steam. £0.79 |