NUMTATE

[b]jan 2022 edit:[/b] the 2.0 update revamped the whole game and the final patch added more quality of life, so I edited the review to reflect the changes. [b]numtate[/b] is a portmanteau of [i]number[/i] and [i]rotate[/i], and sure enough, it's about rotating numbers so they add up to the one in the middle, called a core. luckily, not much math skill is required, as the core keeps track of the current situation, no need to constantly count what's around. the core number is the minimum, not the exact goal, though most of the time you won't have the luxury of going over. cells can also be marked with different colors and they're added up on the bottom of the screen, so it's easier to keep track of what should go where. overdoing it might turn the level into a colorful mess, not something that'd help a ton with the solution, but more options are always appreciated. there are [b]50 levels[/b] in packs of 10, each introduces new mechanics, and completing the very first level in each already unlocks the next set, which is very convenient. no mid-level saving, would be nice, but there are all sorts of mechanics, arrows and magnets to push things around, etc. the 2.0 update fortunately…

The current version of NUMTATE is a pretty solid number-based puzzle game and a definite improvement over the original version. The core of the game is generally rotating numbers (hence the game's name) so that the sum of the numbers around these central hubs equals or exceeds the number on them. In the original version this was handled very strictly with the only squares in play being those around each hub, but now the puzzles take place on more "grid-like" playing fields that offer a good deal more freedom in how you approach them. The other big change is that it is possible at times to get these central hubs to orbit one another which allows them to be maneuvered all over the puzzle which really opens up the possibilities. The game adds a few more mechanical variants along the way that do a good job mixing things up, it rarely gets too hard (although some of the later game puzzles can be a good bit tricky) but it does a fine job holding ones interest for the few hours it likely takes to complete (my game time is inflated from the time spent with the original version). Overall this is a fine puzzle game now that does benefit from the player having some mathematical abilities…