Puzzle Retreat | Android Review
Updated: Nov 19, 2021
Not too long ago, I had the pleasure of reviewing a lovely Indie Game called The Gardens Between, developed and published by The Voxel Agents, which you can check out here. To my delight, I discovered they also developed and published a lovely little puzzle game for Android, Apple, and Windows Phone devices. This game is called Puzzle Retreat and I was excited to give this game a go as I thoroughly enjoyed The Gardens Between and although I tend to avoid playing games on my mobile device, I had been looking for something to distract me during quiet periods at my job. For the purposes of this review, I played this on my Android mobile device.
Puzzle Retreat is exactly what the name describes. It is a puzzle-based game designed to be not overly taxing but also makes you think. It is not too difficult, but also not too easy, which makes this game attractive as it keeps you on your toes. The basis of this game is that you are provided with blocks required to fill empty slots. There are two rules to adhere to: you must fill up all the empty slots, and you must use all the blocks available. The controls are so simple – just hold and slide your finger to move the block. The most common blocks you will get are ice blocks, and once you lay your block, another ice block can slide over it to fill another empty slot. Each level you play adds something extra. At the beginning you may have ice block icons which can between 1 and 5 ice blocks at a time. But the further you continue, the more challenging it becomes. Suddenly there are fire blocks, stop blocks which block passage, and banzai trees to contend with. There are also directional blocks which can change the direction in which your ice block is heading.
There are 60 puzzles which are all free to play. You can also purchase add-ons which open hundreds of extra puzzles to sink your teeth into. A game changer with this puzzle game is that you do not need to stick with the same puzzle if you get stuck. Simply return to the menu and pick another one if you wish to do so. Nothing is more frustrating than being stuck on a puzzle for ages and having no other option to continue playing the game. What I particularly enjoy about this game is that there is no pressure to this whatsoever. There is no time limit, no need to stick with a puzzle if it is a bit too challenging, yet there is a sense of achievement once you complete a particularly challenging puzzle. It is very stress-relieving for me when I play it, which I think is the purpose of this game. It is very easy to manoeuvre, and provides a distraction from the outside world, or for me a distraction from the very quiet periods of my job and stops me from clock-watching. The music is also very calm and soothing, so I find it a great stress-reliever.
I do not think there is anything negative that I could say about this game. The concept is very simple and it works so well. It is not frustrating, annoying, or irritating, like a lot of similar style sliding games which come to mind - I am looking at you Candy Crush. The only thing which the game could benefit from is more free-to-play puzzles for people who dislike in-game purchases, although the 9 dimensions which can be unlocked are all available at a very affordable price.
Puzzle Retreat is a highly enjoyable puzzle game which is not too easy, but also not too difficult, and perfectly suited for people young and old. It is a great way to pass the time coupled with a cup of tea/coffee, in particular, if your job is boring you to tears. I am thoroughly enjoying this game and it is definitely my go-to distraction from the world around me. It is free to play and available on the Android, Apple, and Microsoft Stores, so what are you waiting for? Get your copy today!
Tina's Rating: 5 banzai trees out of 5.
For more information on Puzzle Retreat please use the following links... The Voxel Agents - Developer | Publisher | Facebook | Twitter | Website
Many thanks to The Voxel Agents for supplying the review code.
Puzzle Retreat | Apple | Android | Windows Phone
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