’ve picked 15 of our absolute favorite puzzle games out right now, which range from inventive spins on the match-three formula to strategic navigation games, challenging physics tests, mystery-filled boxes. And don’t forget the snowman-rolling simulator, subway system-builder, bonsai tree-snipping game. It’s a broad mix of options, you’re sure to find something uniquely designed to tease your brain. It starts off simply enough with just a couple of stations (each represented by a shape), which you’ll connect with train lines. As ridership increases, new stations pop up with anxious passengers, you’ll need to figure out how to link it all together without stations becoming overcrowded. You’ll earn extra lines, train cars, bridges the longer you can hold out, the game’s 15 maps are based on real-life city layouts. Mini Metro ($5) Moving one space at a time on board game-esque terrain, you’ll surprise-attack enemies, flip switches, evade obstacles, solve brain-teasers that block your path. ra Croft Go includes more than 100 puzzles, with more promised, does a really impressive job of translating the Tomb Raider allure into a smart, take-anywhere challenge. ra Croft Go ($5) You’ll need to roll the balls around each area to get them into formation, but rolling a ball over fresh snow only makes it larger— if you have the wrong-sized balls, you can’t finish the snowman. Figuring out the order of when to roll the balls where to roll them to is the real challenge, A Good Snowman is Hard to Build packs in plenty of warmth personality to offset any frustration. A Good Snowman is Hard to Build ($5) Each stage begins with you pulling up a tree from the soil, then watching as it grows into the light— then quickly trimming excess branches to maximize its ascent. The 48 levels provide different kinds of hazards, from excess shade to wind other obstacles, you’ll need to experiment with placement snip selection to overcome each challenge. It’s a true one-of-a-kind. une ($4) Each panel shows a different event, they influence each other, so you must figure out how each panel’s happenings can ultimately lead the hero to safety. You’ll drag drop the panels around the screen watch the action play out, then make modifications based on what results. It’s a compact, but very inventive touch experience. Framed ($3) It’s a concept that works wonderfully on a touch device, giving you the feeling of manipulating real objects in front of a flashlight. Of course, it gets much tougher as multiple objects are provided, adding an extra layer of difficulty in discerning the solution. The free download offers a taste, with a $3 in-game purchase providing 100+ total puzzles, extra objectives, more. Shadowmatic (Free) And it’s never just one solution: the challenge is finding which approach unlocks the next opportunity, so on so forth—all while you rotate the box, focus on clues, seek out curious details to explore. It’s very haunting atmospheric, as well, with great graphics cleverly designed boxes. And if you dig the original, The Room Two The Room Three further exp upon the premise. The Room ($1) It doesn’t take long for the concept to evolve. nes become boxes, then you have bombs, fire, anchors in play, all while maintaining that accessible approach. Two Dots has loads of content—more than 1,000 stages as of this writing— gorgeous design outside the minimal game boards, it’s a great freebie option. And sequel Dots & Co. delivers even more fun. Two Dots (Free)
