CrossCells

Not fun

CrossCells is a numeracy-based logic game in which tiles in rows and columns are selected or deselected to match a sum criteria or tile limit. This is expanded on in later levels through multiplication, having overlapping conditions, and conditions that apply to the same row, e.g. sum to 11 using 3 tiles, or reading left to right sum to 11 and reading right to left sum to 9. This adds complexity and ensures the levels scale in difficulty throughout. Where this game loses marks is that it felt as though something was missing in the logical flow. Often, you reach a point in a puzzle where there are a few viable solutions, and you must use process of elimination to follow through possible pathways to solve the puzzle. Sometimes this was possible to do mentally, but, particularly later on, it would require you to follow a possible solution 10+ steps through before you would be able to rule it out as impossible. In the final levels I found myself reaching a point where no further tiles could be determined with certainty and so I would take a screenshot, try a possible path, and then revert to my screenshot once that path was ruled out. A simple option to colour a tile in dark blue as …

not very good

CrossCells is made by the same developer behind the Hexcells series and SquareCells. Unfortunately, it feels like a downgrade compared to their previous work. There's no dark mode or level reset option, and the puzzles don't tell you if you've made a mistake. This becomes a issue in the later levels, as there can be multiple valid solutions in any given row or column, which can lead you down the wrong path. Ultimately, solving the puzzles don't feel as satisfying as it did in Hexcells or SquareCells. I don't recommend getting this game unless you pick it up as part of the Logic Puzzle Pack.

Easier to fall into guesswork than HexCells but there is solid reasoning for each step in every puzzle as far as I remember. Very satisfying once you start thinking the right way.

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