Compel by Simon Eastwood Free

  

Simon Eastwood recently contacted me about his puzzle app game Compel. There are 3 games in one but they're very similar.

  

Let's start with the Classic version. Your task is to place a marker on every single cell, without dying. Look at the third image. The 4 in the top row is being tapped.  That means that the next move must take place on the bottom row.

You die by getting exactly 3 tapped tiles in a row.

I solved the 4x4 and 5x5 grids quickly. Though I did die a few times.  The 6x6 was hard! I needed about 10 attempts to solve it.  According to Simon, each time you load the game, a new level is generated.  According to him, there is not just one correct sequence.

Some puzzlers might classify this as a maze, where you must determine the starting and end points.

The second game is Checkers. The first piece you place will be white, then black, then white.... You will die if there are 3 whites or 3 blacks in a row. I solved the 4x4 & 5x5 levels.  6x6 is tough!

Compel is they type of puzzle app game that you must play carefully!  Moving too quickly will lead to trouble. I say this from much experience.

In the two versions I played, I came up with a specific strategy. But I'm wondering: would another strategy also work?  Simon: good job! I like the graphics too.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/compel/id1212468565?mt=8
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.compel.compel&hl=en_GB

Plus Fifteen by Robert Currie FREE

  

Plus Fifteen comes from Robert Currie.  The object is to link up numbers that add up to 15.

  

Each level has exactly 1 solution. Grid sizes go from 6x6 to 9x9.

I like the graphics a lot.  For some reason, you can't redo a level that's already been solved.  Hmmm.

The fact that there is only 1 solution for each level leads to some interesting analysis.  Look at the first image. The top row has 11 & 4 directly in the center. Under it is 4 & 11.  If the top 11 pairs with the 4 below it or to its right, then the other 11 must pair with the 4 that's left or above it.  But because there's only 1 solution, we know that those pairings would lead to two possible solutions.  Therefore, that top 11 must pair with the 4 on its left.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/plus-fifteen/id1116789526?mt=8
https://www.facebook.com/plus15game

Blyss by Dropout Games FREE

  

Blyss is listed as an Editor's Choice by the Benevolent Powers of the App Store. Unquestionably the graphics are sweet and charming.  The game concept is unique too.

  

The object is to swipe adjacent tiles in groups of 3 or 4 and eliminate all the dots.

I solved 16 levels without failing. Then it sent me back to level 1 or its equivalent.

Blyss is going to be very popular with people who don't normally play puzzles.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/blyss/id991563953?mt=8

KAMI 2 by State of Play Games

  

KAMI 2 is one of those lucky games that the Editors of the App Store have singled out. Which translates into millions of downloads.  To be sure, this game is highly polished with impeccable graphics. In terms of originality.....it's very similar to the game Flood-It! and a slew of others. See list below.

  

The object is to get the whole field to be a single color. If you tap on a red triangle to make it blue, it will change colors and then absorb the other blue shapes that are contiguous to it.

Once you've done 25, you get the idea and they go pretty fast. However, some are definitely tricky.

There are 114 levels and I've solved 1 - 71.  Stuck on 72
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/kami-2/id1133161444?mt=8

Similar Games
Coloruid
Colbox
Globs
Color Zen
Super Flood
Shapzzle
Color Contagious
Puralax

Rupiko by Niels Jansson FREE

  

Ruipiku comes from Niels Jansson. It's very much like his other game Shifty Bits, which I reviewed last year. The object is to slide the rows and columns so that the colors and shapes align correctly.

The concept is not new. I remember getting very tired of the concept about 4 years ago. But I like this. The graphics are nice.

The overall shape is rarely a rectangle.  I also like the black dots. When they appear, above a column, after your move you make, it pushes the column down one notch.

I did 31 levels. It's a fast game.  There are 100 levels.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/rupiku/id1170015153?mt=8
Not available on google play yet.

Loopine by Pyrosphere, Lda FREE

  

Loopine is a sweet little game that tests your timing/dexterity.  Each level has multiple shapes that intersect.  The bright line segments are constantly rotating around the perimeters.

    

Your task is to suspend the movement, then restart it so that there are no collisions with the segments from the other shapes.

There are 150 levels spread out over 3 levels of difficulty.  This is a very relaxing game.  Some of the shapes have a kind of Celtic knot look.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/loopine/id1205980465?mt=8
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.pyrosphere.loopine

Push it, Puzzle edition by Ruslan Goncharenko FREE

  

Ruslan Goncharenko has produced a lot of interesting puzzle apps. The first image shows the directions.

  

Each grid size has 1000 levels.  Really.  I've done 11 altogether.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/push-it-puzzle-edition/id1214908750?mt=8
http://gruv-apps.com/index.php/en/

Some of Ruslan's other puzzles:
Roll the Labyrinth ball
Puzzle 4 colors

Train Mix a challenging railway puzzle game by Serghei Pelin

Train Mix a challenging railway puzzle game comes from Serghei Pelin. The object is to shift/shunt the individual cars so that each chain matches identical cars.

Look at the first image. The top left has a track that's completely unoccupied. That's key.  Some levels have 2 empty tracks, which of course makes things easier.

Look at the second image: there are no empty tracks. Much harder.

There's a lot to like about Train Mix. The graphics are good and the puzzles are challenging.

Helpful: suppose you make a move that leads to an impossible situation, a red light flashes in the upper right corner warning you of this fact and offering the undoing of that last move. Great programming. Fun icon.

There are 234 levels. I did 34.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/train-mix-a-challenging-railway-puzzle-game/id1215846580?mt=8
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.KwezitGames.TrainMix

Similar Games
Book Tower
Six Stax
Six Towers Plus
Panex

Norinori by Yuki Fujimoto FREE

  

Norinori comes from Yuki Fujimoto. The object is to place 2 black squares in each area.  At the same time, all black squares must be part of a 2x1 rectangle which can cross the yellow boundaries.

  

At first I didn't understand why my solution was wrong.  Then the aha moment: the other squares have to be turned white by double tapping them. Oh well.

I solved all the 25 5x5 grids pretty quickly.  They're fun!  Unfortunately, I wasn't able to access the higher grids. According to the Leaderboard, everybody else can! Another oh well.

The most similar game I can think of is Nicola Salmoria's Twin Beams.  Unfortunately, it is no longer available.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/norinori/id1200281949?mt=8

Squares - Puzzle by Murillo Frias Free

  

Murillo Frias contacted me months ago about his puzzle app game Squares - Puzzle. At first, it seemed like another 'move Your Man over every square and get to the destination' puzzle.  In fact, it is, but there are some new elements.

  

The round dot is Your Man and must traverse across all the gray squares and then enter the yellow square.

The Light Gray squares: must be crossed over twice.
The Purple squares: landing on them is like sliding on ice. Your Man will land on the next square.
The White squares: can be landed on as many times as you like.
The Black squares: must be pushed to its destination at the same time Your Man must cover every square.
The Red squares: either move places or shrink. Landing on 1 red square may affect the other red squares.

Squares - Puzzle is highly polished.  My only criticism is that the gray squares could be more contrasted with the black background. The levels start out easy but they get very challenging.

Great job Murillo.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/squares-puzzle/id1045830662?ls=1&mt=8

Similar Games
Mortal Coil - in the Puzzle App Hall of Fame
Stroke! - largely overlooked,  adds a color matching scheme that makes it devilishly hard.
Full House Touch
Full Monster Puzzle 
Berry Puzzle 
Eat A Way
Filling 
Block Path
Snake Walk
Mr. Square
Rookfall

atapgame by Kyle Gorlick FREE

  

Kyle Gorlick is the author of atapgame. It's a dexterity/timing game.  The objective is to tap on the circle to launch it into space - to ultimately land at its destination. Without colliding into moving line segments.

  

It's not very hard game. But it's well designed and fun.  Options include changing the circle to some other images - including your face.

The first 20 levels or so are free. After that, I think the rest costs $1.99. I paid it.

Altogether there are 51 levels and I'm stuck on 45, which I think is too hard!

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/atapgame/id1189851352?mt=8

Combilock by 1860636 Alberta Inc. FREE

  

The goal of Combilock is to get the 2 circles to align their holes directly against the locks.

Tap on the inner circle, then move left or right. The inner circle will rotate faster than the outer circle.

The opposite occurs when you tap on the outer circle and move left/right.

Combilock is tough! The concept is unique. I've only solved it twice.

Go the company's homepage, bottom link below. Watch the video - short, but fabulous.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/combilock/id1096654722?mt=8
http://combi-lock.com/

Logistricks by Galliker Transport AG FREE

  

Christian Schnellmann has made Logistricks for Galliker Transport AG, which is a Swiss Trucking company. I have never been to Switzerland, but I can tell you this: if I need a trucking service, anywhere in Europe, I'd contact Galliker, just because of the fact that they commissioned a puzzle to be made.

So what's the game about? The object is to transfer the boxes from the ramp to the correct truck.
Elements: 
1. Swipe in any direction and all boxes move until they hit an obstacle.
2. Pallets are obstacles and they can be tapped out at any time.
3. Some boxes must be moved within a certain number of moves.
4. Some levels must be completely solved within 5 seconds.

Not sure how many levels there are. I'm stuck on #50. I'm guessing there are 125 levels.

The graphics are clean and crisp.  Logistricks is FREE.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/logistricks/id1182304603?mt=8
https://www.galliker.com/

HIT n RUN by Greenery FREE

  

The other day I was looking for an old puzzle app. I don't remember the title, but it's no longer available.  HIT n RUN was similar in title, and it popped up.  I love this game!

  

HIT n RUN is a point scoring game.  The object is to stay alive as long as possible and score as many points. Every time you move Your Man, the orange square,  you get 1 point for the move.  If you crash into a blue square that has 3 on it, you get 3 additional points.

Your Man will die if he lands next to a piece that he's not crashing into. No image above to show you an example.

There are other things that you have to figure out for yourself. Like how the blue squares merge. And how they will try to box you in.

I still can't figure out why the orange square turns red temporarily and what the significance is.  The folks at Greenery have a web page - all in Korean - but not contact info.

I can't stop playing it. I make my moves too quickly. This game is a winner.

My high score is 1074. Sagar is #1 with 5555 and John Paurillo is #2 with 4996. #3 has 2596.

Update 5/23/17:  Two things.  First, I can't stop playing this game.  I'm going to have to delete it.  Second, one of my students found a glitch in the program and is now the top scorer with 5614.  I'm tempted to do the same, but I just can't.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/hit-n-run/id1010108856?mt=8