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Stack & Crack ($0.99) by Jambav is a minimalistic puzzle game that looks simple at first but is intricate and complex. If you liked games such as Minimize, Cuzzle, and PUSH, then you'll enjoy Stack & Crack.

Life's been getting a bit hectic for me, so I'm always looking to sit down and take a breather. When these times come, I usually end up pulling out my iPhone and playing a game to take my mind off things. My standard fare are puzzle games, of course, as they always prove to be rather relaxing yet stimulating at the same time. And even though I think I've gone through the majority of puzzle games that the App Store has to offer since I've been here at AppAdvice, I can't help but look for more. Stack & Crack is a new release this week that fits the bill of soothing yet challenging.

$2.99

minimize

BorderLeap, LLC

Free

Cuzzle

GalacticThumb Inc.

$0.99

"PUSH"

Maciej Targoni

In terms of visual design, Stack & Crack is beautiful. It features a simple and clean minimalist aesthetic that eliminates all extra fuss and is just enough for players to understand the core game mechanics. The game is rendered in 3D with a slightly angled, top-down perspective that's reminiscent of games like Monument Valley.

The colors are a nice mix of dark and muted tones with brighter, more vibrant hues and they contrast with each other nicely. The soft glows and particle effects are calming, and animations are smooth and fluid. There are some "glitchy" line effects that remind me of Telepaint, which I thought was cool. So far, I've had no issues with lag or choppy frame rates on my iPhone 8 Plus. On top of it all, the ambient and atmospheric soundtrack is a delight to listen to, as it helps you focus on the puzzles in front of you.

Like other puzzle games, Stack & Crack is based on levels. There are seven main chapters, which you can access after completing the "Learning to Stack" tutorial chapter. Each chapter has anywhere from 10 to 15 puzzles each, and they must be completed in linear order. However, you don't need to worry about time limits or move restrictions, because there aren't any, so there are no stars to earn. So you can play this game entirely at your own pace, which is nice.

The goal in Stack & Crack is to get the "Boxies" to the Portal of Light, but they can only move in the direction that is indicated on the white strip that's on them. This means each Boxie can only move horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. So how is getting them all into the Portal possible? It's all about exploring the relationship between each Boxie, and then stacking them together to get to the final destination.

Eventually, as you get through the chapters, you'll find new game mechanics that make the puzzles more elaborate, such as squares that flip the stack order, make them jump, swap them, and more. The chapter names give you an idea of what to expect, because the new elements are stated in their names.

Controls in Stack & Crack are simple enough for anyone to pick up and play. To move a Boxie, just tap it and you'll see where it can move to, thanks to colored outlines that match the Boxie's color. Then tap the space you want it to go. In order to stack Boxies, you'll want to move another Boxie on top of another, making sure that the Boxie on the bottom is able to get to the Portal of Light. Boxies cannot be unstacked (unless there's a certain game mechanic), but there is an "Undo" button in the bottom right. You can undo as many times as you want, so make sure to use it.

If you get stuck, Stack & Crack does have a hint system. Just tap on the small icon in the top right corner, and the solution to your puzzle gets revealed. However, the game only gives you two free hints with the initial purchase, and if you run out, you'll have to buy the $1.99 in-app purchase for unlimited hints. As someone who doesn't like IAPs in paid games, this irks me a bit, but it's completely optional.

A minimalistic puzzle game about stacking four blocks.

The Good

Stack & Crack is a gorgeous and relaxing puzzle game that truly makes you think. I love the visual style because it's simple yet effective, and the music is soothing. The game concept is tried-and-true, but the intricate Boxie relationships is a nice twist, as well as the unique elements that get introduced at a gradual pace. There's plenty of content for the value, and the game runs smoothly.

The Bad

I love Stack & Crack so far. But again, I'm not a big fan of paid games that include in-app purchases, as I think you should get access to everything without having to worry about throwing away more money. I know that the hints are optional, but it's the principle.

The verdict

Overall, Stack & Crack is an enjoyable treat for any puzzle fan. The game has a distinctive and appealing graphical style, the music and sounds are charming and delightful, and the gameplay is simple yet complex at the same time. The controls work out well with no fuss, and the difficulty ramps up gradually so you don't feel overwhelmed too soon. This is definitely a game that any puzzle fan should have in their collection.

Stack & Crack is on the App Store as a universal download for your iPhone and iPad for just $0.99. There are in-app purchases.

8.9

OVERALL

Sound/Music 10

Game Controls 9

Gameplay 9

Replayability 8

Graphics 8.5

$0.99

Stack & Crack

Jambav, Inc

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Thumper: Pocket Edition ($4.99) by Drool is a mix of rhythm and action in a single game. It's an interesting mashup of genres, and makes for a truly unique experience. If you enjoyed recent games like Cytus II but want some rhythm violence mixed in, then Thumper is the game for you.

Even though I'm not the best at them, I like rhythm games because they usually have good tunes, and they're just fun to play. I remember stumbling on Thumper while browsing the Nintendo Switch eShop a few months ago, but I never bit the bullet on it. I was intrigued by the game, but not sure it would have been something I liked, especially with the eShop price. But when I saw Thumper was hitting iOS with a more reasonable price point, I knew it was my chance to check it out. Needless to say, I'm glad I finally gave it a try.

$1.99

Cytus II

Rayark International Limited

Thumper's visuals are stunningly beautiful. The game has some psychedelic graphics that feel incredibly futuristic, and everything is rendered in gorgeous 3D. Thumper's dark background is excellently contrasted by the bright and vivid neon lights of the track and sparks, and the space beetle is super shiny and glassy. Explosions are high-octane and fun to watch while being highly satisfying. Thumper runs at a smooth 60 frames per second, even on my iPhone 8 Plus, so there's zero lag.

The ambient soundtrack is an entirely original work by Brian Gibson, and it's delightful to hear as you play. I thought the music would be a bit more metal because of the "rhythm violence" description of the game, so it's a bit surprising and caught me off guard.

In Thumper, players will find nine epic levels awaiting them. While this doesn't sound like a lot, each level's broken up into multiple stages. These also serve as checkpoints once you clear that part, so you restart from the last checkpoint rather than the beginning of the level. The levels consist of about 15 sections, and you get graded on each one based on your performance. There's also boss battles to face off against, which test everything you've learned so far.

Since I didn't play Thumper on other platforms, I'm not familiar with how the game works with physical controls, but I think the touch controls work okay for the most part. When you see a square node coming up on the track, tap the screen right as your space beetle is over it for it to count. When facing off against boss battles, you'll want to get the timing right so you can throw those projectiles back at the boss to damage it.

There are also curved walls that require you to turn on the track. When you come up to these, just swipe left or right to turn. Longer walls need you to swipe-and-hold to make it. Some light beams also appear, and you must tap-and-hold the screen to have your space beetle dash and break through them. There's also a jumping mechanic, which I assume has you swiping upwards, but I haven't reached it yet. The game introduces new game mechanics as you go.

Again, while I haven't played Thumper on other platforms, I do hear that the controls are great. But the touch controls, while they work for the beginning, get more iffy as you go. This is because the game seems to not be as responsive after certain actions, such as turning, so it may have a delay when trying to register a tap or long press right after. I also experienced unresponsiveness after breaking through the barriers and then having to turn right after, resulting in untimely deaths. For a game that's all about timing and precision, the controls need to be better optimized.

For those who manage to beat Thumper, the Play+ mode gets unlocked. This is basically "New Game+" and features increased challenge and speed. Because you know, the regular mode isn't hard enough.

Thumper is incredibly challenging, but you'll find yourself getting better over time. You're bound to die a lot (you can only make one mistake before you end up dead on the next error), but you'll keep coming back to do better. And once you overcome that hurdle, it's immensely gratifying.

A high speed journey through psychedelic landscapes with rhythmic overtones.

The Good

Thumper is definitely an interesting game, and one that shouldn't be overlooked. It's a rhythm violence game so it requires precise timing and reflexes to survive, and it's super challenging. Plus, the graphics are great and the music is pretty good, though a bit mismatched. While it may not seem like a lot of levels, the length of each one, as well as the difficulty, mean a lot of time is required.

The Bad

The mobile port of Thumper is great, but the controls do need some work. Since fast reflexes and timing are a must here, the responsiveness of the controls must be improved. Hopefully this can be fixed sooner rather than later.

The verdict

Despite the flawed control scheme on the mobile port, Thumper: Pocket Edition is a good way to introduce the game to those who haven't tried it before. The psychedelic visuals are rather mesmerizing, the music is soothing, and the challenge is there. It may not be the best game for those who get frustrated easily, but the sense of overcoming a level you've been stuck on is pleasing.

Thumper: Pocket Edition is on the App Store as a universal download for your iPhone and iPad for $4.99.

7.9

OVERALL

Replayability 8.5

Graphics 8.5

Gameplay 8

Game Controls 7

Sound/Music 7.5

$4.99

Thumper: Pocket Edition

Drool LLC

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