Countin' Stars

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Countin' Stars is a really simple puzzle game, but I found the basic idea surprisingly addictive. The whole game is built around looking at a night sky and counting the stars before the timer runs out. That sounds almost ridiculously straightforward, but once there are other objects on screen and I have to make a decision quickly, I found myself concentrating much harder than I expected. The main mechanic is exactly what the title suggests. I have to carefully count the stars and choose the answer that matches what I can see. Sometimes none of the options are correct, which is where things get more interesting because I can manipulate the sky instead of simply guessing. I enjoyed having to switch between observation and quick problem solving, especially when the timer started putting pressure on me. The ability to create or destroy stars is probably my favorite idea here. Black holes can remove stars, while other objects can create new ones, allowing me to change the scene until it matches one of the available answers. I liked this because it turns what could have been a basic counting exercise into something more active. I am not just counting what is there. I am also working ou…