puzzle games

Bejeweled Live+ Review: The puzzle king returns to Windows Phone

Games

By Paul Acevedo, Thursday, May 23, 2013 at 10:35 am

You might not know this, but Microsoft and Bejeweled go way back. PopCap created the very first version in Flash in 2001, originally calling it Diamond Mine. When Microsoft hosted the game at its MSN gaming site, the two parties agreed to change the title to Bejeweled, a name that has now become synonymous with the match-3 puzzle genre.

Windows Phone 7 launched with Bejeweled Live, a decent but overpriced ($5!) port of the game with only three game modes. Considering that Bejeweled on iPhone and iPad each include five modes for only one dollar, the original Bejeweled Live has always represented a poor value proposition.

Thankfully, PopCap has finally made good with Bejeweled Live+, essentially a port of the iOS version. A timed Nokia exclusive, it has a two dollar markup on Windows Phone 7 and 8. But three dollars doesn’t sting too badly when we’re talking about the finest pure puzzle game on the platform.

Popular Windows Mobile puzzle game HexaLines finally arrives on Windows Phone

Games

By Rich Edmonds, Sunday, Apr 28, 2013 at 9:17 pm

Popular Windows Mobile puzzle game HexaLines is already available for Windows 8, and has been for some time. Those of us who wield Windows Phones have had to wait until the developer eventually managed to get the game in a working state to release on the mobile platform. That time has now come. HexaLines is now available on the Windows Phone Store.

Azkend 2 for Windows Phone 8, escaping from the center of the Earth

Games

By George Ponder, Thursday, Apr 25, 2013 at 8:54 am

Azkend 2 is yet another fantastic Windows Phone 8 game fro 10tons. Azkend 2 is a puzzle game that calls on you to find strings of three or more of the same object. The storyline for Azkend 2 has you traveling across the ocean from England to the U.S. At some point your ship gets trapped in a whirlpool that sends you to the center of the Earth. You solve the puzzles to collect tools to help you escape to the surface.

As with other 10tons games, Azkend 2 has impressive graphics and challenging game play. Along with the main puzzle game, you also have a side game that appears in between levels that has an "Eye Spy" feel to it. Azkend 2 is a nice addition to our Windows Phone gaming library and will satisfy the puzzle lover in all of us.

Zuma's Revenge Review: The original Aztec action puzzle game

Games

By Paul Acevedo, Wednesday, Feb 27, 2013 at 9:51 am

Casual and hardcore (or ‘core’) games often appeal to one group of players while excluding the other. Aiming at just one slice of the gaming audience is well and good, but the holy grail of game development is bridging the gap by appealing to both audiences. Only one game developer has consistently managed to reach that lofty goal: PopCap. Now owned by EA, PopCap has finally returned to Windows Phone (7 and 8) with a port of its accessible yet challenging puzzle masterpiece Zuma’s Revenge.

As a Nokia exclusive, non-Nokia owners will have to wait six months to play Zuma’s Revenge. Read on to find out why it’s worth the wait.

KooZac Review: Add it up in this unique puzzle game.

Games

By Paul Acevedo, Wednesday, Feb 20, 2013 at 10:24 am

Xbox Windows Phone has absolutely no shortage of puzzle games and physics puzzlers. These types of games are easy to create and easy to port, plus they work well in short play sessions on the go. I don’t blame avid mobile gamers for tiring of puzzlers as a whole, as our platform certainly needs a wider variety of games. Still, puzzle games inarguably have their place on smartphones, so we can’t expect them to stop coming along.

Of course KooZac is a puzzle game, but it’s noteworthy for several reasons. First, it comes Square Enix, the prolific Japanese developer responsible or Final Fantasy and many other mobile RPGs. Square-Enix’s continued support can only be good for Windows Phone. Two: KooZac might look like a standard falling block puzzle game, but it actually plays unlike its brethren thanks to the inclusion of my most bitter enemy: math. Also, Facebook integration!

Square Enix returns to Xbox on Windows Phone with a puzzle game called KooZac

By Paul Acevedo, Wednesday, Feb 6, 2013 at 3:22 pm

You could be forgiven for not expecting a new Xbox release this week. After Skulls of the Shogun’s long-awaited debut last week, there really aren’t too many upcoming Xbox Windows Phone games that we actually know about. But Microsoft told us the release drought would probably end this month, and it looks like they were right. A shiny new game has popped up for all Windows Phone 7 and 8 users today: the oddly named KooZac.

Almost as exciting as receiving a new release at all these days, KooZac comes from one of our favorite mobile publishers – Square Enix, makers of Final Fantasy. We actually heard whispers of this game coming to Windows Phone at E3 last year, but the representative was so noncommittal about it that we didn’t bother to get our hopes up. Looks like Square Enix hasn’t given up on Windows Phone yet!

Wizard's Dungeon Review: He's a puzzle game wizard

Games

By Paul Acevedo, Tuesday, Jan 8, 2013 at 9:11 am

Seeing as how we got no new Xbox release to enjoy last week, let’s turn our sights to the indie scene. That’s where Carbide Software has published a few titles such as Word Sleuth, which we reviewed a few months back. Their latest release Wizard’s Dungeon is a remake of a Blackberry game from 2011.

Remember how IonBallEX livened up a tried-and-true game design with a cyberpunk setting? Well, Wizard’s Dungeon is a smaller scale game but it boasts a similarly appealing fantasy theme. Players take on the role of a wizard who must match as many colored orbs as possible before they reach the bottom of the screen and crush his life out. Talk about high stakes!

KenKen for Windows Phone 7: Like Street Fighter for your brain

Games

By Paul Acevedo, Wednesday, Jan 2, 2013 at 11:26 am

Last year’s free Sudoku game provided a nice little bit of logic puzzling for Xbox Windows Phone gamers, but it hardly had any staying power. The randomly-generated puzzles failed to instill much replay value, as players could easily just finish off the game’s Achievements in a matter of hours with no reason to keep playing. Plus its sparse Metro-style visuals left much to be desired. As such, Microsoft’s mobile platform lacked a logic game with real meat on its bones.

This year Capcom of all companies has stepped in to turn things around. Their first Windows Phone game KenKen provides a very Sudoku-like experience that players won’t finish all in one day. Well, maybe you could beat it in a Martian 36 hour day, provided you don’t have a psychotic episode. The question is: does KenKen justify its relatively lofty price?

Capcom releases its first Xbox Windows Phone game: KenKen

Games

By Paul Acevedo, Wednesday, Dec 19, 2012 at 11:07 am

We may not have received an Xbox Windows Phone release last week, but thankfully the drought did not continue this week. What’s more, the latest release is either both good news and bad news, or just plain good news, depending on how you look at it. The very good news: console and arcade giant Capcom is now making Windows Phone games. The kinda-sorta bad news: it’s a somewhat expensive puzzle game. Still, fans of brain puzzles will absolutely eat up KenKen (akso known as KenKen Pro).

Turn N Run: Xbox Windows Phone Review

Games

By Paul Acevedo, Wednesday, Nov 28, 2012 at 8:33 am

Russian developer MaxNick really impressed us with its Xbox Windows Phone release of Spider Jack. For a year, it was the closest thing on our platform to Cut the Rope, and remains a quality game. MaxNick has also released a handful of indie titles such as Doodle Invasion, a quirky little game about evil aliens attacking the Earth. Now the developer returns to Xbox Live with Turn N Run, which stars a nicer alien this time. The Windows Phone port arrives only a couple of months after the iOS original – a breath of fresh air after having to wait so long for Sonic CD to show up!

Both of the previous games I enjoyed from MaxNick featured charming 2D art. Does the transition to 3D graphics and a new gameplay style result in another quirky hit? Read on to find out.

Turn N Run debuts for WP7, doesn't run well on WP8 (for now)

Games

By Paul Acevedo, Wednesday, Nov 21, 2012 at 8:30 am

As we exclusively revealed over the weekend, this week’s Xbox Windows Phone release is Turn N Run, from Russian developer MaxNick (makers of Spider Jack) and Chillingo/EA. The lighthearted puzzle game is now available on the Windows Phone Store. Turn N Run plays great and definitely has easy Achievements, but Windows Phone 8 gamers will have to wait to enjoy it...

On November 21, prepare to Turn N Run on Xbox Windows Phone

Games

By Paul Acevedo, Saturday, Nov 17, 2012 at 12:26 pm

Windows Phone Central recently compared the popular puzzle game Cut the Rope to Spider Jack, a competing Xbox Windows Phone title. Spider Jack comes from a small developer called MaxNick and publisher Electronic Arts. Now we’re pleased to announce that MaxNick and EA have another Xbox game in store for us this Wednesday: Turn N Run. Also pleasing: it will run on both Windows Phone 7 and 8.

Head past the break for exclusive Turn N Run details, a list of the game’s Achievements, and a trailer!

Cut the Rope and Spider Jack: Xbox Windows Phone Head-to-head Review

Games

By Paul Acevedo, Wednesday, Nov 14, 2012 at 11:49 am

Cut the Rope has been an extremely popular game on iOS for years now, but it only just arrived on Windows Phone last week. In the meantime, we’ve made due with Spider Jack, a similar puzzle game that arrived on WP7 back in December. Cut the Rope originates from a Russian developer called ZeptoLab (though their UK branch crafted this port), while Spider Jack comes from the equally Russian MaxNick and publisher Electronic Arts. Now that both games are available (and playable on both WP7 and WP8 handsets), which one should you buy? Windows Phone Central answers that (sort of) in this head-to-head review.

Altern8: Windows Phone Game Review

Games

By George Ponder, Tuesday, Nov 13, 2012 at 8:45 am

Altern8 is a puzzle game for your Windows Phone that offers you an alternative to mazes with walls. Instead of having your movement restricted by traditional walls, Altern8 restricts your movements through maze puzzles by colored squares.

You move through a grid of colored squares, alternating the colored squares you land on, as you seek the exit. Altern8 has five gaming modes, five difficulty levels and four color pairs. Altern8 is a fun, change of pace styled game that is worth a try if you're looking for a game to play while passing the time.

Windows Phone Game Review: Peg Jump

Games

By George Ponder, Tuesday, Jun 19, 2012 at 4:36 pm

Fling coming to Xbox Live on Windows Phone this Wednesday on the cheap

Games

By Paul Acevedo, Tuesday, Jun 19, 2012 at 4:03 am

Actual Windows Phone screenshots free of marketting text!

It’s getting down to the wire, but we do at last have details of this week’s Xbox Live release. This Wednesday, prolific Swiss developer Miniclip’s latest game Fling makes its debut. Fling’s Achievements were first discovered back in early May, along with Battleship and Mirror’s Edge. This will make two down and one to go, won’t it?

Fling is a puzzle game that plays much differently from Miniclip’s previous Xbox live releases. In each level, players must flick furballs into each other with the goal of leaving only one monster on the board. Furballs can only travel horizontally or vertically and they only stop when they hit another furball, so you’ll need to experiment and/or think a few moves in advance to win.

Fling packs metric tonnes of puzzles spread across four game modes. Free-play lets you play at a relaxed pace without time constraints; Arcade challenges players to solve as many puzzles as possible before time runs out; Challenge breaks groups of levels up into timed sets; and Frenzy is a never-ending survival mode. Arcade and Frenzy each have several specific Achievements, while the other modes do not.

With many mobile Xbox Live gamers suffering from puzzle game fatigue, Miniclip’s newest needs something special to catch gamers’ eyes. Good news! Fling launches Wednesday, June 20 at a price of only 99 cents. If you can’t wait a day to play it, head over to Miniclip.com right now to check out the Flash version.

Windows Phone Xbox Live Review: Doodle God

Games

By Paul Acevedo, Wednesday, Jun 6, 2012 at 8:34 am

Windows Phone already had an Xbox Live ‘god’ game before JoyBits’ Doodle God graduated from indie to Xbox Live status. That title was Pocket God, an ill-supported and underwhelming port of the hit iOS game. Regardless, Doodle God and Pocket God couldn’t be any more different. Pocket God is all about teasing hapless worshippers via minigames, whereas Doodle God focuses on the creation aspect of godhood. As it turns out, creating a world and populating it with new things takes a sharp mind and plenty of trial and error. No wonder that one guy needed a rest after six days!

Xbox Live - Droplitz Delight twists onto the Windows Phone Marketplace

By Paul Acevedo, Wednesday, May 23, 2012 at 6:20 am

Last month, Windows Phone Central announced that Droplitz Delight would soon be coming to Xbox Live. That time is now at hand, as Game House’s latest is now available on the Marketplace.

Droplitz Delight is the mobile-exclusive sequel to XBLA and Steam puzzler Droplitz. In each level, players are tasked with guiding the adorable liquid droplitz from the top of the screen to the bottom. You’ll have to quickly rotate a bunch of tiles in order to create a safe path for the little liquids, and then do it all again after the old path disappears. Gameplay modes include the 40-level Target Quest, Dash, Classic, and Free Play.

The warm and cuddly art style of Droplitz Delight would be reason enough for puzzle fans to give it a look, but the game has another ace up its sleeves too. Droplitz Delight rings up at just 99 cents – the perfect impulse price. You can get it here on the Marketplace.

Purity - Mango App Spotlight

Games

By George Ponder, Monday, Nov 14, 2011 at 3:16 am

Purity is a tile based, puzzle game for your Windows Phone. The concept is simple but challenging. You have a series of tiles that you have to navigate through from point A to point B, absorbing them all along the way. Choose your route carefully because once the tile is absorbed, you can't go back (well...almost).

Purity has 60 levels of play and as you progress up the levels, they become more challenging and special tiles (teleports, shields, connectors, etc.) come into play. Each level can be re-playable so you can try to best your score.

Movement is a little on the tricky side. You control your player (a white orb) by pressing and holding the screen to get a 4-way controller to appear. Slide your finger in the direction you want your orb to move. Should you make a boneheaded move or fall asleep at the wheel, there is a rewind feature. Just tap the screen with two fingers and your player rewinds one move. The movement controls do take a little time to get used to but once you get the hang of things, Purity is an enjoyable, "fun to pass the time with" game for your Windows Phone.

Purity is a free, ad-supported game for your Windows Phone that you can download here at the Windows Phone Marketplace.

Software Review (WP7): Popper 2

Apps

By George Ponder, Saturday, Nov 20, 2010 at 4:30 pm

Miss Bubble Breaker from your old Windows Mobile Phone? Have no fear, Blue Rose Systems has just what you need. Popper 2 (link will open your Zune browser) is a bubble-breaker styled game that has three game modes to give it a unique feel and sets it apart from the traditional game we've grown accustomed to.