In a time when the makers of Candy Crush Saga file for an IPO and sue developers who use Candy in their name, mobile gaming is seen in quite the poor light. This is where puzzle games like Lyne come into the picture. Lyne is a great example of mobile gaming done right. The fact that features of a game list things like “no ads or in app purchases” is just sad. Lyne by Thomas Bowker is a puzzle game done right.
The game starts off with a few quick tutorial levels that explain the mechanics to you. You have to connect geometric shapes in a certain pattern by dragging your finger across the screen. After doing so, the shapes move and you have completed the level. Lyne is full of great animations and a very interesting look. The interface uses very few colours and the patterns in Lyne are reminiscent of argyle sweaters. As the game progresses, different shapes are added and connector blocks that must be used to complete a level. The game takes its own time to bring all the mechanics to you and you never feel rushed. The game isn’t just about the visuals though. The wind flute-esque sounds add to the mystique. Lyne has boatloads of levels as well.
Lyne has a lot going for it and I love that it is available on almost everything that you can play a game on. Lyne is available on the App Store as a universal app for $2.99, Google Play for $2.99, Windows Phone Marketplace for $2.49 and directly from the developer’s website for PC, Mac, Linux and Android together at a discounted price of $2.99.