Puzzleworks Quarterly, 3

Corey Hardt currently writes a column called Thinky Puzzles Quarterly on his blog. Electron Dance reposts these as Puzzleworks Quarterly.

This recurring feature aims to showcase some of the most interesting, fun or otherwise noteworthy free puzzle games made by members of the Thinky Puzzle Games community over the last few months. As usual, these are just my personal picks I’ve narrowed down from a larger group of great games. All of these games can be played free in your browser, and they’re presented in roughly the order they were published.

SSSPICY!

https://torcado.itch.io/ssspicy

I like to start off these lists with a game that’s impressive enough that it feels like a commercial product, and SSSPICY! definitely fits the bill. If you’re tired of the restrained, blocky aesthetic of PuzzleScript games, Torcado has provided the antidote – every piece of this game is dripping with style. The mechanics are fun too: eat bananas to grow your body big and strong, hot peppers that send you rocketing backwards as flames erupt from your mouth, and who knows, maybe there are even ssspicier snacks out there for you to find…

This Is Clearly Impossible

https://unsuspiciousperson.itch.io/this-is-clearly-impossible

If you play lots of challenging puzzle games, “this is clearly impossible” is not an uncommon feeling to encounter. Some even crave this state of being stumped: give me something so mind-bending that I swear I’ve tried everything, but I know the solution must exist, just beyond my vision. Enter a game for the real Sokoban aficionados: unsuspiciousperson gives us a group of interconnected rooms, some of which actually are unsolvable… and it’s up to you to say which.

Nourish

https://chambers.itch.io/nourish

Nourish by Pedro Câmara may start off relatively easy compared to the brutal PuzzleScript standard, but it’s filled with more than enough care and charm to make it one of my favorites on this list. Cute, detailed visuals, humorous and wholesome writing, and an abundance of interwoven mechanics make for a very pleasant and well-paced little puzzle experience.

Cube

https://competor.itch.io/cube

“Cryptic” and “mysterious” are two of my favorite words to hear in relation to a puzzle game, and Cube by competor is a small experience that wears both of these descriptors proudly. Be prepared to spend some time confused, trust that it’s going somewhere, and embark on that wonderful journey from “not understanding” to “understanding just a little bit more.”

Knights and Knaves

https://jpojecp.itch.io/knaves

More than anything else, I enjoy playing and showcasing games that are interesting, that are doing something new. Knights and Knaves by John Poje is not a perfect game, but it also isn’t very typical. In the vein of the classic logic puzzles of the same name, you’re trying to find the right doors by asking questions, with only partial information about who here will give you honest answers. You articulate these questions using a clever symbol system, and while the execution is not without some flaws, I really appreciate someone making an effort to translate these word problems into web-game form.

A Slime’s Test for Intelligence

https://neonesque.itch.io/a-slimes-test

Neonesque is establishing a reputation as quite the prolific purveyor of quality PuzzleScript experiences. Several of their games have featured in previous TPQ issues, and they’re back again with A Slime’s Test for Intelligence, a cute little platforming game with some wonderfully expressive animations. Stretch and squeeze your way around the compact levels, finding surprising ways to traverse your surroundings.

Curious Fishing

https://rhythmlynx.itch.io/curious-fishing

Curious Fishing by RhythmLynx is a very polished puzzle game with a great central hook. Your fishing line has limited length, so use it efficiently to navigate the underwater world and reel in various kinds of ocean life. It’s a perfect example of “move counters can be interesting, if they’re part of the core design of your game.” Lots of different creature interactions, plenty of charm and great music and sounds make this a very pleasant experience.

Hat Tricks

https://clickmazes.itch.io/hat-tricks

Clickmazes has been around doing the web-puzzle thing since 1997, a heck of a lot longer than me. I’m happy to have a reason to feature some of their work: in Hat Tricks you play a magic wand, disappearing and reappearing in and out of various magic hats. It’s sort of like only being able to push crates in one direction at a time… and also you teleport through those crates. The game was a late entry for the 2nd Thinky Puzzle Game Jam, which featured a plethora of other hat-related puzzles.

Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you in January to round out the first year of Thinky Puzzles Quarterly.