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Thimbleweed Park ($9.99) by Terrible Toybox is the mobile port of the recently released point-and-click adventure game on Steam, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4. If you enjoyed games like Layton's Mystery Journey and Samorost 3, then you'll like Thimbleweed Park.

When it comes to mobile games, one probably thinks of casual puzzles or high score chasers first. However, in recent years, plenty of point-and-click adventure games have originated on iOS, or even get ported over to mobile, proving that the platform is an excellent choice for many gamers who want to get their gaming fix on-the-go. I usually don't play too many point-and-click adventure games, but when I saw Thimbleweed Park has made its way onto iOS, I had to check it out for myself. As someone who hasn't played the game previously, I'm definitely not disappointed.

$15.99

Layton’s Mystery Journey

Level-5 Inc.

$4.99

Samorost 3

Amanita Design s.r.o

Visually, Thimbleweed Park is beautiful with a retro pixel art style that serves as a nice homage to the classic games of yesteryear. If you grew up with the 16-bit games on SNES and SEGA Genesis, then you'll feel right at home. Despite the pixelation, the game is packed with plenty of fine textures and details, and even has a pseudo-3d effect with the shadows and lighting. Animations are smooth and fluid, with no lag on my iPhone 7. There's an atmospheric soundtrack that is rather eerie, fitting in well with the tone and theme of the game. Thimbleweed Park also breaks the fourth dimension, as it pokes fun at itself through character dialogue. So if you love humor, there's plenty of that in Thimbleweed Park.

Since Thimbleweed Park is a point-and=click adventure game, that means players must go through the story in its entirety from start to finish. There are no levels to go through, and everything transitions seamlessly into each other. The story is linear, so you can't go out exploring until you've completed whatever needs to be done at that moment in time in the game. Fortunately, the story itself is rather interesting, and the characters are all unique and humorous in their own special ways.

Controls in Thimbleweed Park are simple and intuitive. To move your characters, just tap on the spot you want them to go to. Another option is to double-tap-and-hold to have them follow your thumb until you release the screen. The game also lets you control multiple characters, and you can easily switch between characters by tapping on the character portrait in the upper right corner and then choosing who you want to swap with.

The thing that sets Thimbleweed Park apart from other point-and-click adventure games is its distinctive interaction system. In the bottom left corner is a box with all of the different interactions you can do with the environment and objects: Open, Close, Give, Pick Up, Look At, Talk To, Push, Pull, and Use. To the right of this area is the stash of the character you're controlling at the moment. To do actions in this game, you'll have to select the verb, the subject, and then an object that receives the action.

For example, you may need to give Polaroid film to another character so that they can use their camera. Then you may want to give this Polaroid photo to someone else to see if they know anything about the case you're working on. You'll also want to push or pull doors to open or close them, pick up suspicious objects, use objects to solve puzzles, and much more.

Talking to your partners or other NPCs brings up several dialogue options on the screen where the actions were. Just tap on the one you want to pick, and listen to the characters talk or explain something to you. Again, the humor is rich in this game, so I recommend not skipping cutscenes.

Thimbleweed Park's story is an interesting one, because it starts off with a character who ends up getting murdered. But then you eventually control five other characters who mostly seem to have nothing to do with each other, except they're all deeply connected and being watched by a mysterious entity. Oh, and no one actually cares about the dead body, which you think is the central plot point as Agent Ray and Junior Agent Reyes are assigned on the case.

Like other point-and-click adventures, Thimbleweed Park is packed full of mystery and secrets that you'll end up discovering on your own. However, the control system means many more possible actions that you can do and the comedy is spot-on.

Thimbleweed Park is a point-and-click adventure game that's dark, mysterious, and packed full of humor.

The Good

There's a lot of good about Thimbleweed Park that should appeal to many people. The pixel art style is top notch and doesn't skimp out on important details. The music is immersive and captivating, while sound effects are fairly realistic (try using a water fountain). Controls seem a bit complex at first, but it's pretty simple and intuitive once you get the hang of things.

The best part about the game is the story, which hooks you right from the get-go, and the fourth dimension breaking humor will no doubt bring a smile to anyone's face. The game has multiple save slots and auto-saves after important parts of the story, so you never lose your progress.

The Bad

Even though Thimbleweed Park is an excellent title, it's still not for everyone. If you just don't usually get into point-and-click adventure games, then this may still not entice you. And again, the controls work, but it seems rather complicated from first glance, so it takes time to get used to. And even though the story is interesting, it does start off slow, like most point-and-click games, so it's not something you'll want if you prefer fast-paced titles.

The verdict

While I've tried out many point-and-click adventure games in the past, not many of them clicked with me. However, Thimbleweed Park seems different, which is probably due to the comedy involved with the characters, dialogue, and story. I also am a sucker for pixel art style games, so of course I had to check this one out when I saw it on the App Store. The interaction system is different and opens up many more possibilities on how you can interact with the world around you, which I love.

I recommend giving Thimbleweed Park a try if you're a fan of point-and-click adventures. You can find Thimbleweed Park on the App Store as a universal download for your iPhone and iPad for $9.99. It's also available on Steam, PS4, and Xbox One for $19.99.

9.1

OVERALL

Graphics 10

Sound/Music 10

Gameplay 9

Replayability 8

Game Controls 8.5

$9.99

Thimbleweed Park

Terrible Toybox, Inc.

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The Witness ($9.99) by Thekla is the official mobile port of the critically acclaimed video game that came out in 2016. If you're a fan of puzzle games, then The Witness is a must have. It's inspired by Myst, and definitely a game that encourages critical thinking.

With the ever increasing power of the iPhone and iPad, they're perfect for mobile gaming. If there's any solid proof of this, it's all of the ports of previously console and PC-only games that are making their way to mobile. Some popular ones we've had recently include The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth, Danmaku Unlimited 3, Injustice 2, and more. And now we have The Witness, an open world puzzle game that has captured the hearts of many with it's creativity. If you've never played The Witness before (like me), then there's no better time to jump in than now.

$4.99

Myst

Cyan Worlds, Inc

$14.99

The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth

Nicalis, Inc.

$4.99

Danmaku Unlimited 3

Sunny Tam

Free

Injustice 2

Warner Bros. Entertainment

Visually, The Witness is gorgeous. The graphics are fully rendered in 3D, and the environments are lush and realistic. The colors range from bright and vibrant hues to muted earth tones to soft pastels and even dark and gloomy shades. The combination of this wide range of colors results in an incredible world that is truly eye candy and rather immersive. Animations are buttery smooth on my iPhone 8 Plus, and I experienced no lag whatsoever during play.

Usually, video games have soundtracks that add to the overall feel of the game that they're in. With The Witness, it's different. In fact, there is almost no music in the game at all. This is done on purpose, according to the developers. The Witness is a game about being perceptive, so you want to pay attention to the subtleties in puzzles as well as details in the game world. However, the sound effects in The Witness are important, because it fully immerses the player in the island, adding depth and texture.

In The Witness, players will find themselves waking up on a remote island, and that's pretty much it. The island itself is full of puzzles (over 500), and there are many different types of puzzles to solve. Some are simple enough to solve, but things do get tricky as you progress. Solving the puzzles are a critical part of the game, as they will help you discover your identity (it's unknown in the beginning) and how you got on the island in the first place.

Controls in The Witness are simple and intuitive, with the game teaching you the ropes as you go in the start. To move, just tap on where you want to go, and you'll walk over there. Swiping horizontally on the screen lets you move the camera around so you can check what's surrounding you. Tapping on puzzle screens takes you into the puzzle. If you double-tap where you want to go, it makes your character run instead of walk. A tap with two fingers stops you in your tracks.

As mentioned earlier, there's a large variety of puzzles to be found in The Witness, and the controls may not always be the same. In the beginning, at least, the puzzles involve finding the right path from the large circle area to the end point, which is indicated by a pulsating circle. Players must drag their finger from the starting circle to the end, but they'll have to navigate a labyrinth, and can't cross over their own path.

Sometimes you'll even need to separate the white and black squares before getting to the end. The game introduces new puzzle mechanics at a gradual pace, and one can pretty much figure it out after a few attempts. Fortunately, The Witness is fairly relaxing, as there aren't any penalties nailed on players for being wrong, nor are there any move restrictions or time limits.

A beautiful 3D puzzle adventure awaits you.

The Good

The Witness is an amazing port for mobile. The game retains the same beautiful graphics from the original versions, but it's been optimized for iPhones and iPads. The lack of music is an interesting choice but works out well, plus the sound effects are realistic and engaging. Controls are easy enough for anyone to pick up and play, and the puzzles are quite stimulating. The entire game is great as a whole, since it encourages free exploration and problem solving.

The Bad

While The Witness is a fantastic game, it may not be for everyone. If you're seeking something that's more action-packed or just want some mindless arcade fun, then The Witness is not for you. If you prefer some hand-holding when it comes to your games, then you won't really find that here either. Players must discover things on their own in The Witness, and that's part of the charm. Plus, it means more freedom in terms of exploration, which is always nice.

The verdict

I never played The Witness before, nor did I know much about it, so I'm glad that it's now available on iOS. The game is packed with stunning visuals, and everything runs smoothly. The lack of music was a bit strange to me at first, but after reading the reason behind it, I completely understand. The lack of a soundtrack only adds to the experience, oddly enough. Sound effects were spot on and immersive. Controls are easy to learn and feel natural on a touch screen. I'm a big puzzle game fan, so I love the variety of puzzles in The Witness, and with over 500 to find and solve, you do get some bang for your buck.

I highly recommend grabbing The Witness if you're a fan of open world puzzle games, or enjoyed classics like Myst. The Witness is on the App Store as a universal download for your iPhone and iPad for $9.99. You can also get The Witness on Steam, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4 for $39.99.

9.5

OVERALL

Game Controls 10

Gameplay 10

Replayability 9

Graphics 9.5

Sound/Music 9

$9.99

The Witness

Thekla, inc.

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