Changes (2021)

Got this game the first week it was out, and I'm really enjoying it so far! If I had to describe it succinctly, I would say "challenging and relaxing at the same time", which is difficult to pull off! The music combined with the surreal visuals give it a serene and engrossing quality, yet the puzzles are very challenging so it feels really satisfying to solve them! This game is good for being able to just block out the outside world and get lost in this colony of living cells and solving the puzzles to set everything right! I also really liked all the esoteric text blurbs about the cells and the original John Conway game. They make me reflect and wonder what these cells are really like. I also really like the poetry and quotes that come up in some of the text cells, they really tie in with the themes of the game, and make it a more all-encompassing artistic experience! That kind of depth is greatly appreciated! [b]TL;DR[/b] I definitely recommend picking this game up if you like puzzle games, especially ones that are calming and relaxing yet very challenging/rewarding at the same time!

disclosure: i did some pre-release playtesting on this game, and i know the developers personally i should note that i haven't finished this game at time of review (there's lots more here than what i've played), but i want to call some attention to this game as it could really use more eyes as the description states, the game is inspired by Conway's Game of Life, something i wasn't familiar with before being introduced to this game, and introducing a player piece to that system produces a lot of curious results. solving puzzles inside of these rules creates a kind of science, where the player learns to use specific techniques for movement, destruction, and creation to solve the problem. it feels like trying to control chaos, and even the smallest mistake can often result in your attempt literally blowing up in front of you which brings me to the next point of curiosity: solving a puzzle in this game is just as satisfying and encouraging as any other puzzle game known for its challenging, thought-provoking puzzle design; but failing to solve a puzzle here can produce results that are often just as satisfying. a lot of puzzles here are structured around trial and error, especially…

Really interesting game with the twist that you can affect how the cycle of the cells behaves. If you are into puzzle games this one can be quite challenging because you have to think how the rules will affect each cell.

A journey into pattern generation and geometrical puzzle solving. One of the most interesting and unique sokabons you'll ever play. Don't get discouraged if you get stuck, the entire game is a museum, available for you to wander around and enjoy at your level!