CountUp

CountUp is a very simple puzzle game, but I found myself getting into the score chasing side of it pretty quickly. The whole idea is to connect numbered tiles in ascending order before the time runs out. It sounds easy when explained like that, but once I start looking for longer combinations while the clock is running, I have to think much faster than I expected. I liked how quickly the game gets me into that rhythm of looking at the board, spotting a possible route and trying to connect everything before I lose the opportunity. The main mechanic is all about creating combos. I can connect tiles horizontally or vertically, but the numbers have to be unique and go upwards for the combination to count. Longer combinations give me better scores, so there is always a reason to look beyond the easiest move. I enjoyed this because there is a nice balance between planning and reacting. I can take a moment to work out a route, but I cannot spend forever thinking about it because the time limit keeps pushing me forward. The time limit is what gives CountUp most of its tension. Without it, the puzzle would probably be far too relaxed, but having a clock running in the background changes h…