Puzzlers can be the hardest games to review. Beyond just explaining the raw mechanics of the game, it can be very difficult to convey the “fun" aspect of the game. Fortunately, here are a couple of puzzle games with trial versions that are worth your time.
Theseus
Theseus [App Store, $3.99] is a puzzle game that has been bouncing around the App Store since September but hasn’t really gotten a huge amount of attention.
The game pits you against the Minotaur and your goal is to escape the maze. The catch? The Minotaur moves twice as fast as you do, however, he follows a strict set of rules that you can use against him.
For each move that you make, the Minotaur makes two moves. He always tries to get closer to Theseus. If he can move one square horizontally and get closer, he will do that first. If he can’t move horizontally, then he will try to move vertically.
The full version of the game offers 85 levels of play. Meanwhile, there’s a Lite [App Store] trial version that offers 17 levels to give you a taste of the full game.
If you like logic/puzzle games, this one’s worth a try.
App Store Link: Theseus Lite, Free, Theseus, $3.99
Gudeballs
Gudeballs [App Store, $0.99] is a new iPhone puzzle game that appears to be another Flash port. That means you can try the Web/Flash version for free before you buy the iPhone game.
The game involves grouping 4 like-colored marbles onto various plates. You can rotate each plate and send balls down the set paths. Later levels introduce some interesting obstacles such as one-way paths and color-specific locks.
Both Flash and iPhone versions appear to be written by the same developer and include identical levels (at least for the first few stages). The iPhone controls could use some improvement (tapping targets are a bit small) but are functional.
App Store Link: Gudeballs, $0.99
