Khimera: Puzzle Island

This is a great picross/nonogram game. There's a good amount of content for the price. It has more charm than I expect for a picross game. There's cute characters, lovely retro visuals, and a surprisingly good soundtrack. There's even a little story to follow. 100% completion will require you to beat levels within a certain time limit. The time limits felt generous to me, but it's something to consider if you like achievements. There's also the problem of 100% completion requiring you not to use any items on the levels. Unless you want to play levels multiple times, you'll end up ignoring the whole item mechanic-- although they can be freely used in mosaic mode. Items are never necessary, by the way. There's never any guessing required. Overall, I thought this was a great addition to the picross genre. I am hopelessly addicted to this type of puzzle, however, so take my words with a grain of salt.

It's fun to mull over how this game asks for even a dollar over the game that it's spun off from (which sits at a steep price tag of "nothing") but in terms of polish, content, and overall feel of quality, this would be a steal at 2x $5... for picross addicts, so be apprised of any extant biases. I have what that the layman would refer to as a "metric ♥♥♥♥ ton" of picross games between like 10 platforms, just so you're aware of the addictive proclivities of the ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ writing this review. Like, there is a ridiculous amount of puzzling action here and going thru the first few steps of revisiting it, I feel like the only way I was able to finish the campaign the first time around was because I was locked in a 15 x 12ft Airbnb in the Upper West Side for my job for over a month in 2021. The campaign grids rank you on time and usage of power-ups or aids, so even completion gives way for repeat playthroughs for them cookies (tho this usually culminates in shallow contests of rote recall.) There's a lot... A LOT. And that's in addition to a [i]bulk[/i] of post-campaign mosiac puzzling to do, but I'd only gotten about 1/5 (probably) the way thru those. Or, at least I would have, if this…

This game rules, the puzzles are all well-designed and digestible, the storyline is fun, and I think this may have some of the best sound effects for a Picross-style game I've come across. Well worth the money, even as I have some mosaic puzzles to finish off.

A very charming and competent picross game. The narrative is simple but effectively ties together the puzzle gameplay and provides incentive to continue playing. Also good music.

Its a fun game. Time passes by as you solve puzzles and you progressively get better at it overtime. The story is nice so far into the game.

I had a wonderful time with this game, the art is very charming, the story is fun, and the puzzles are fairly accessible. Would recommend if you like picross/nonogram/pattern/whatever.