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Num Yumms (Free) by The Paper Robot is a cute puzzle game about numbers and hungry little monsters. If you enjoyed other mathematical puzzle games like the classic Threes! and Mesh, and like seeing adorable critters, then Num Yumms could be your next time killer.

Life's been getting pretty hectic for me lately, with several life things that are stressing me out immensely. When I need a break from everything, I like to just cuddle up in a corner on the couch and fire up some game on my iPhone to pass the time and forget about things for a while. My genre of choice for these moments is usually puzzle games, since they tend to keep my mind stimulated and I have a good time. As I was perusing the App Store this week in search of something new, I stumbled on Num Yumms and I couldn't resist. When there are charming and endearing little monster critters, how do I say no?

$2.99

Threes!

Sirvo LLC

Free

Threes! Free

Sirvo LLC

$1.99

The Mesh

Creatiu Lab, SCP

Visually, Num Yumms has a simple and clean design that is reminiscent of Threes, which seems to have inspired many games. While Num Yumms is supposed to be 2D, the Num Yumm pieces and numbered candy tiles have some depth to them, so it seems closer to pseudo-3D, if anything. The game uses a fantastic mix of bright and vibrant hues that contrast nicely with the soft blue glow of the grid background. There are many different types of Num Yumms, and each one has their own unique and distinctive appearance, but they're all equally lovable. Animations are smooth and fluid, with no issues of lag or choppiness on my iPhone 8 Plus. Num Yumms also has an upbeat and quirky soundtrack that is rather delightful. To top off all of the cute going on here, the sound effects are fun and add more personality to the monsters.

There's only one game mode in Num Yumms, and it's perfect for those moments when you have time to spare. It's a high score chaser, and after every run, you'll know you can do better (or so you think) and therefore the replay value is pretty good. The goal in the game is to feed the Num Yumms candy, which is spread out all over the grid.

The number on the Num Yumm shows how much candy they can have, and the numbers on the candy pieces indicate the value of that piece. Each Num Yumm only gets five turns to reach their target goal, after which you get a new Num Yumm to feed. If you're under or over after five moves, then you lose a turn, which is shown at the top. If you're out of turns or there are no more moves to be made, then it's game over. Your score is a combination of the number of candies eaten and eggs hatched.

Controls in Num Yumms are a simple affair. Just swipe up, down, left or right to have your Num Yumm move one space. You can only move on the squares with candy tiles on them, and make sure you reach the target number on the Num Yumm, otherwise you lose a turn. Some spaces will have walls blocking them, and other candies may make you lose a turn or shuffle the board, so options may be limited. The game requires you to plan out your moves carefully, and make sure that your math adds up.

Since Num Yumms is a free game, there are video ads that play every now and then between rounds. You can get rid of ads through an in-app purchase of $1.99. As you play and discover new Num Yumms, you can view your collection by tapping on the egg in the top right corner.

Num Yumms is a cute and endearing mathematical puzzle game that's friendly enough for the entire family.

The Good

Num Yumms is an entertaining way to pass the time. It's full of cute critters with delightful sounds, and the gameplay makes you think. While it seems like a simple concept at first, it's surprisingly in-depth with the math and requires some planning ahead. You also need to keep an eye out for special candies, since they can affect the turn pretty drastically if you're not too careful.

The Bad

While it's a simple high score chaser that's bound to provide some fun, I do wish that there were more game modes. Perhaps a puzzle mode, or even time attack would be fun additions. It's a solid game, but more modes would add some more variety. I mean, it does get a bit repetitive at the moment.

The verdict

I'm a big fan of puzzle games, even if there's numbers involved, and I think Num Yumms is a great addition. The visuals, especially the monsters, are cute and charming. The sound design is well done as well. Controls are simple and easy to learn, making this a family-friendly game for everyone to enjoy. The ads are not too intrusive since they don't interrupt current games, but the option to get rid of them is available if they bother you. I just hope to see more modes added in the future, as it would keep the game fresh.

Num Yumms is available on the App Store as a universal download for your iPhone and iPad for free. There are in-app purchases.

8.5

OVERALL

Game Controls 9

Graphics 9

Sound/Music 9

Gameplay 8

Replayability 7.5

FREE

Num Yumms

The Paper Robot LLC

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Umiro ($2.99) by Dice Roll and published by Devolver Digital is a gorgeous and soothing puzzle experience filled with mystery and awe. If you enjoyed other games like Ruya and Lynk, then you'll get a kick out of Umiro.

Spring has officially begun, and things are going into high gear in my life. With wedding plans that still need to be done, taxes to pay, and health thins I get paranoid about, there's hardly a moment when I'm not stressing out lately. So when I have some time to relax, I'm definitely relishing in those precious moments, especially when my fiancé is around. One of my tried-and-true solutions to de-stressing is games, especially calming puzzles that take my mind off of reality for a bit. When I saw previews of Umiro a few months ago, I knew that this game would be a fine addition to my repertoire. And now that it's finally available, I was right.

$0.99

Ruya

MIRACLE TEA STUDIOS LTD

$0.99

Lynk.

Michael Le

Umiro has an aesthetic that appears to be inspired by games like Monument Valley, but it's still distinctive enough to stand on its own. So you get the angled, top-down perspective, but the game doesn't feature optical illusions as you'd expect. However, due to the point-of-view, the stages appear unique and are highly detailed. Umiro makes use of a nice range of colors, from bold and vibrant hues to soft pastels that contrast nicely with each other. The character design in gameplay is a bit more on the minimalist side, but you can still tell them apart easily due to their exclusive looks. Animations in Umiro are smooth and fluid, and I experienced no issues with lag or choppy frame rates on my iPhone 8 Plus. The atmospheric soundtrack is pretty tranquil and relaxing, and the sound effects are a nice touch.

On top of it all, there are some cutscenes between some stages that reveal more about the story. These are beautifully handcrafted drawings that evoke emotion and set the overall tone for the game itself. It's clear that Umiro was made with love and care.

In Umiro, you'll discover the two schoolmates, Huey and Satura, who are in Umiro with no memory of their past or how they got there. Their memories are somehow locked away in crystals, so their only hope of understanding their situation is to reach the crystals that correspond to them, as they're color coded. Huey needs the blue crystals, and Satura's are pink. The yellow crystals are optional, but they reveal more secrets behind the mysterious world of Umiro, so they are worth the effort to collect if you can. The crystals not only help Huey and Satura recover their forgotten memories, but they restore life back into Umiro itself.

There are four chapters in Umiro at the moment, and each one has a handful of puzzles to get through. To get access to chapters two through four, you need to complete all of the stages in the previous chapter first, and there's no way around that. The goal in each stage is to guide Huey and Satura to their respective crystals while avoiding dangerous obstacles and hazards along the way. Again, the yellow crystals are optional, but they do reveal more about the game's world to you. However, they are more dangerous to reach, so you'll need to devise alternative ways to reach it, as well as have impeccable timing.

The controls in Umiro are simple and intuitive. To get Huey and Satura to move, you'll just need to draw a path from them to their corresponding crystals. Once the paths are drawn, just tap on the "Play" button and they will move along the drawn path. Sometimes there will be more than one crystal for a character, so you will need to repeat the process. The Play button does not become active until all characters have a path drawn out for them.

If one of them touches a hazard, such as the black balls that roam around, then you've failed and have to try it again. Fortunately, there are no time limits, move restrictions, or stars to worry about, so you can play the game at your own pace.

Work together to bring color back.

The Good

Umiro is a beautiful and relaxing puzzle experience for everyone. The visuals are simply stunning and exquisite, with clear inspirations from other popular games, but a distinctive enough aesthetic to stand on its own two feet. The sound design is incredible as well, with the zen-like soundtrack that's designed to help you tune everything out and focus.

Path-drawing puzzle games are always challenging, but Umiro is even more so due to the fact that you must have two characters go at the same time. The game starts off easy enough, but the difficulty increases gradually, and is never overwhelming. It's a great puzzle game for everyone.

The Bad

There's a lot of good going for Umiro, but it's not perfect. I can see the game being frustrating at times because your path may be off by just a tiny bit, and you end up dying multiple times because of it. There's also no hints in the game either, which makes it even more challenging if you're just trying to rush through it (don't do that).

The verdict

Umiro is a gorgeous game with an amazing soundtrack, and it was all crafted with care by the developers. The puzzles are challenging, but once you solve one you've been stuck on, then it just becomes even more satisfying. The base goal is easy enough, but adding in the optional yellow crystals mean completionists have something more to strive for, and it reveals even more about the colorless world. It's a nice bonus to look forward to. I'm enjoying the game a lot so far, and it's definitely going to keep me busy when I need it.

Umiro is available on the App Store as a universal download for your iPhone and iPad for just $2.99. There are no in-app purchases.

9.2

OVERALL

Graphics 10

Sound/Music 10

Gameplay 9

Replayability 8.5

Game Controls 8.5

$2.99

Umiro

Devolver

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