The Halloween Cryptical Puzzle by Calum Davidson FREE

 The Halloween Cryptical Puzzle comes from Calum Davidson. The object is slide the red and green tiles to free the key.  When the key gets to the slot, you win a gold coin.

There are 13 levels and I've solved 4 of them.  I really like this puzzle.  It would make for a great cylindrical version of Rush Hour.   Hey Calum: really good job. 

Read this article about Calum.

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/the-halloween-cryptical-puzzle/id1484214291

A Long Time by COTTONGAME $.99

 A Long Time come from COTTONGAME Network Technology Co., Ltd. They made Isoland which I reviewed earlier this year. 

Their new game is similar to Blockwick, which I reviewed back in 2013.

The object is to shift the rectangular shapes to create a path for the ribbon to go from left to right.

There is a story behind it: a puppet who is in love.  It's very poetic & philisophical. Probably all lost on me.  There are 30 levels, so it's a short game.

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/a-long-time/id1450612495

SquareShift by Will Hain FREE

SquareShift comes from Will Hain.  The object is to rotate groups of squares of 2x2 tiles to eventually transfer the blue squares into the glowing blue targets.

There are 60 levels.

The first 15 levels - straight forward.
The next 15 levels - some squares are locked in place and cannot be rotated.
The next 15 levels - some squares have #s which indicate the maximum number of times that square can be rotated.  These are challenging.


https://apps.apple.com/us/app/squareshift/id1484781114

NABOKI by Maciej Targoni $.99

NABOKI comes from Maciej Targoni.  I'm a longtime fan of Maciej. Scroll to the bottom to see my reviews of his other games.

 Maciej is one of those handful of Puzzle App Designers who specialize in 'minimalist' games.  I've never seen an actual definition of this term as it relates to puzzle apps. Essentially: the game does not explain the rules or mechanics. It's all intuitive. (Michal Pawlowski is another prominent minimalist puzzle designer.)

 NABOKI is a series of 3D jigsaw puzzles that must be taken apart in the correct sequence.

 here are many elements that must be mastered and toyed with. What's most impressive is the ability to rotate the entire figure. Simply put, the graphics are outstanding.

I'm not sure how many levels there are. I did struggle on some.  I'm guessing it took about 1.5-2 hours to complete.  Perfect game to play when you're talking to somebody on the phone.

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/naboki/id1473480040
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rt.naboki
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1177130/NABOKI/

Other games from Maciej that you must download.
"klocki"
"Hook"
oO
"PUSH"
Up Left Out

MeiLong Polaris Cube $14.00

The MeiLong Polaris Cube is a variation on the old and famous Skewb Puzzle.

In order to turn the cube, all the corners need to be rotated 120 degrees.  This will then align the axes and the puzzle will then turn like a skewb

I've solved this puzzle 3 times so far.  I bought my first Skewb around 1995.  It's one of the easiest twisty puzzles to solve.  I made up my own algorithms to discover which ones were useful.

I'm using those same algorithms on this puzzle. But this one has those little pieces which make it interesting.

The quality of the manufacturing is stellar.
https://www.moyustore.com/collections/new-arrivals/products/meilong-polaris-cube-stickerless

Merge Green Squares by ying zhou FREE

Merge Green Squares comes from ying zhou. The object is to merge the green cubes without crashing into the white dots.

What I particularly like about this game is that there are only 15 levels.  The last 3 or 4 levels are pretty good.

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/merge-green-squares/id1485197020

Sometimes You Die by Philipp Stollenmayer

Sometimes You Die comes from Philipp Stollenmayer. I'm a big fan of his games.  (Scroll to the bottom to see some of my other reviews of his games.)

In Sometimes You Die, you will have to die multiple times in order to succeed.  I won't spoil the fun.

Look at the last 2 images.  The 685....I think it means that I'm the 685th person to solve the whole set. (Update 11/13/2019: Philipp just informed me that the 685 indicates how many times I died! It's funny and mortifying at the same time.)

According to Philip's description, there are 80 + levels.  They go pretty fast.  And then you get stuck and give up....until you keep trying.

He also mentions that there are 'hidden' levels.  I have no idea if I got to them.  How would I know?

In a game, you die.

And imply that it has no effect on you.

You feel invincible in the realm behind the screen.

This one is different.

In this game, you have to die.

∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ G A M E ∙ ∙ ∙

What is your motivation?

What do you expect from this game?

Do you want to beat it?

How do you know it can be beaten?

This game plays with expectation, illusion, and reality.

∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ P U Z Z L E S ∙ ∙ ∙

Think before you act.

Who knows what it means to die behind the screen?

Is it only a number that goes up?

Pixels that change their intensity?

Solve disturbing, surprising, and malicious puzzles.

∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ D E A T H ∙ ∙ ∙

Is it possible to go through the game

without dying even once?

Will you aim for it?

∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ D I F F I C U L T Y ∙ ∙ ∙

Some think the game is easy.

I think,

those haven't discovered the hidden levels yet.

80+ levels.

Hidden content.

Wow factor.

Epilepsy warning: One level includes fast flashing lights.

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sometimes-you-die/id822701037

Some of Philipp's other games
okay?
Zip-Zap
Squaredance
supertype

Sausage Adventures by Ece Cansu Guler FREE

Sausage Adventures comes from Ece Cansu Guler.  The object is to drag the sausage onto the bun perfectly.  The bun comes in many twisted shapes.

I did 75 levels very quickly.  No idea how many levels actually exist.  This game is way too easy for me.  Good for young puzzlers.

Very Bad: some levels are repeated again and again.

Deleting this now.
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sausage-adventures/id1485093733