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BLUK ($1.99) by Deepak Madathil and Pixel Ape Studios is a physics-based platformer game where you control a single block with magical abilities. If you’re a fan of skill-based games, then Bluk is one that you should check out.

As a gamer for a little over a decade now (didn’t fully get into video games until I hit high school), I’ve gone through a lot of mobile games since I’ve started at AppAdvice. Even though my latest addiction has been Pokémon Go since it’s release in July (I’ve been out for hours at a time just walking around), I like to come home and kick back with more games that don’t require me to put my feet to work. For these moments of the day, I love relaxing games that still keep my mind stimulated, because that’s just a terrible thing to waste. When the news of Bluk hit my inbox, I was pretty excited to check it out, since one of the guys behind Bluk also created Blyss, another recent favorite. Needless to say, I’m not disappointed by what Bluk brings to the table.

Visually speaking, Bluk reminds me a lot of Monument Valley because of the abstract, isometric visuals that have a minimalistic aesthetic to them. While some may not like how almost every other game tries to copy Monument Valley’s style, I like it, as it calms me every time I see such graphics. Bluk features simplistic architectural structures within a soft, pastel-colored world that does turn dark at some points, and it’s just a nice visual treat for the eyes. The 3-D rendering is great, with the foreground in sharp contrast to the objects in the far distance, and I truly love the colors that they chose to represent the world of Bluk. Animations are buttery smooth, and the ambient soundtrack helps soothe your soul as you focus on the game itself. Overall, Bluk is a great visual and audio package that will delight everyone.

In Bluk, players control a block that has special abilities, and you find yourself on a journey to uncover a darkness that is disrupting the eternal harmony of the realm. There are several different worlds in Bluk, which you can traverse through one-by-one. The transitions between worlds is done seamlessly, as you’ll just notice by the change in pillar color, and the background color shifts over. Once you reach a new world, you’ll be able to start from that point on a new run, rather than starting from the very first world each time. The new areas that you’ll uncover will introduce their own peculiar obstacles that you’ll have to overcome, so the variety and difficulty of the game is kept fresh and interesting. The game is also pretty lenient on how you can play, as well, since you can either go through the rather abstract story, or just always play endlessly.

Controls in Bluk are simple enough for everyone to understand. The block starts out on a pillar, and there are many more pillars that are laid out in front of it. You just drag your finger on the screen to aim the block with the dotted trajectory line, and then release your finger to jump. It’s like Angry Birds controls, except without the annoying birds and pigs. The goal is to land on the next pillar without falling, and if you manage to land inside of the square on the pillar surface, you’ll earn bonus points for the “perfect landing.” If you don’t land in the square, you’ll still get one point for a successful landing. The moment you fail to land and fall, the run ends and you’ll see your high score. You can then choose to retry from your chosen starting point, or you can go to the main menu and pick a different one.

The game starts out pretty easy, but naturally, the difficulty amps up as you get further in. Eventually, you’ll find pillars that will topple as you jump, or they’ll start to fall one piece at a time, so you’ll have to work quickly to make it to the next pillar. However, the block will also find runes at certain points, and these runes unlock new abilities, such as extending your trajectory line so that you can be more accurate with the jumps. There’s only five runes to find, and you can easily see your progress on the title screen. Bluk also has achievements that you can obtain, leaderboards to compete on, and even a Hall of Fame, so the replay value is extended.

I’m still early on in the game, but Bluk is proving to be a fun and challenging game that is not like anything I’ve played on mobile before. The graphics are gorgeous due to the clean aesthetics and colors, the music is tranquil, and the one-touch controls are intuitive. The gameplay itself is distinctive and the difficulty amps up at a nice, gradual pace. I’m really enjoying the game so far, and it’s definitely a title I’ll be coming back to when I have time to kill.

I recommend checking out Bluk if you’re a fan of physics-based platformer games that require both skill and patience. Bluk is on the App Store as a universal download for your iPhone and iPad for $1.99.

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Super Powerboy ($1.99) by Super Powerboy Limited and Pixel Blast is a auto-running platformer game that is a bit reminiscent of Mega Man titles. If you love a whimsical and charming game, then Super Powerboy is one you should not miss.

As a ‘90s kid, most of my childhood was spent on platformer games, because they were the crème of the crop of games back then. Most of the popular games were platformers, like Super Mario Bros., Mega Man, and even Sonic the Hedgehog. I loved them because they were challenging and fun, even if I may not have been a platforming pro back then. And as I grew up, I was able to discover the magical world of Pixar movies, which are always full of delightful visuals and universes, and Super Powerboy is a game that makes me think of just that. If you think of Pixar making some kind of platformer game with awesome character upgrades, well, then you would have something like Super Powerboy. And boy let me tell you, this game does not disappoint.

The visuals in Super Powerboy are breathtaking and gorgeous. As I mentioned, the 3-D rendered graphics in the game definitely make me think of Pixar immediately, from the unique environments that you’ll be exploring to the character model of Super Powerboy himself. This is one of the most ravishing games I’ve played lately, and it just oozes with charm. The world map and stages are beautifully laid out with incredibly fine detail, and the obstacles and enemies contrast nicely with the spectacular backdrops. Colors range in tone from soft hues to rich and vibrant ones, and there are some neat lighting effects as well. Animations are buttery smooth, and it’s amazing to be able to watch your character’s progression as you have upgrades available, since everything shows up on your actual character model in-game. To add to the Pixar-like feel, the game has an ambient and atmospheric soundtrack that is a wonder to listen to, so this is one of those games you’re going to need your favorite earbuds for. Plus, the voice for the narration is fantastic too. Overall, Super Powerboy is a magnificent visual and audio package, and it shows that the developers poured a lot of soul and heart into this awesome title.

In Super Powerboy, you’ll find out in the beginning cutscene that aliens have invaded Earth and plan to plunder it until nothing remains. But there is one boy who has the ability to stop them, and that’s Super Powerboy, but he will need your help in gathering enough power to stop the aliens from stealing all of our valuable resources.

The game is level-based, with different 45 stages that are spread out across five different areas on a world map. The main goal in each level is to collect all of the required shards, which is indicated on the world map. Without getting all of the shards, you won’t be able to unlock the next stages to move on in the game. And for each level, you’ll have to make your way from the starting point to the end goal while avoiding obstacles and getting rid of alien enemies along the way. Additionally, there are bonus objectives on each stage, which include gathering a certain amount of power and defeating a number of enemies. These extra goals keep things interesting, and give you an extra incentive to replay stages as you look for the remaining shards. Plus, the power that you gather helps you level up and open up new character upgrades for your disposal.

The controls in Super Powerboy are different and will take some time to get used to compared to other auto-running platformers, but they’re still intuitive. Each level begins when you tap on the screen, which will send Super Powerboy running forward automatically. The screen utilizes both halves of the screen as controls. Just swipe up on the left to jump, down to duck-and-slide, and tap on the right half to do things like punch attacks. Since the game features auto-running elements, it’s all about timing and precision of the controls in order to succeed and clear stages, as you can’t go back and fix your mistakes. Objectives are clearly shown at the top so you know what’s left, and new game mechanics are introduced as you progress. Once you reach that glowing light pillar at the end of a stage, you’re done there and can advance to the next level.

As you gather enough power, Super Powerboy will earn an energy orb that goes into one of the slots on his avatar. When all three are filled, you will level up and unlock a new equip upgrade, which you access by tapping on the lightning bolt icon on the main screen. Every couple of levels unlocks a new one, and when you select the upgrade, you’ll see it get put on Super Powerboy himself, so you always have a visual of your game progress. New mechanics will have quick tutorials at the start of a mission that introduces them, so you are never lost in the game.

So far, even though I’m still pretty early on in the game, I’ve been enjoying every second of it. Super Powerboy is simply impressive with the stunning visuals, the music and sound effects are a joy to listen to, and the controls, while a bit different from the norm, are intuitive once you’ve gotten used to them (rather than buttons). Even though it’s an auto-running platformer, I found the stages to still be rather challenging, as you have to time your moves precisely if you want a perfect score, and the objectives keep giving you something to work for on every level. And I love games that reflect character upgrades in the gameplay, so it’s awesome seeing Super Powerboy grow from a normal kid to an awesome mech-like character after all upgrades.

The only drawback of the game is the fact that it was never disclosed in the App Store description that it was an auto-runner. When I first noticed it, I thought it was just a regular platformer. Not a big deal for me personally, but I do know some may be put off by the fact that it is auto-runner.

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