Linelight is a classic puzzle game with several worlds to play through. It also has good mechanics that challenge and entertain the player. Much like in most games puzzle games, the game progresses in difficulty. However, Linelight does it in an inventive way that easily transitions through easy puzzles to more difficult ones. Although, there’s no story, gamers can play through the game empty-minded and just enjoy the puzzles. A game that relaxes you with its light mazes.

Linelight Review

Title: Linelight

Platform: PlayStation 4, PC [Reviewed]

Genre: Puzzle Game

Developer: Brett Taylor Interactive

Publisher: My Dog Zorro

Players: 1

Release date: January 31, 2017

Price: $9.99

Gameplay

The player controls a single white light from a top down perspective. The light follows a 2D maze-like path that is revealed the further you go. Featuring a simplistic UI, the game utilizes a minimalist approach, with four keys used to move through the hundreds of levels that are in the game. Once the player begins to explore, they encounter their first puzzle in the world. This is where the game truly begins. Starting with easy puzzles, to help you get a hang of its different mechanics. This also introduces Linelight’s beautifully formed clean design.

The further you explore the more traditional puzzle designs you see. Not to mention, switches to toggle gates, pathways, obstacles and enemies. Even with the reuse of these concepts, the game uses them with unique and inventive ways that differs immensely from most puzzle games. The way Linelight throws you directly into each new puzzle without tutorials, is a breath of fresh air. Most Puzzle games start slow, not Linelight. Don’t worry though, Linelight’s puzzle concepts are easily taught through trial and error.

No Shame in Dying

Unlike most puzzle games there are no repercussions to dying. Quite frankly, there’s no repercussions to messing up or missing something either. When you get stuck on a level, the game doesn’t make you go backwards. There are several parts of the game, where this feature is useful. It will let you take a breather and relax. Its serene music and soothing ambient lighting create a meditation-like area where you can recover and think through the problem. Along with this beautiful music, the visuals in the game are stunning. The crisp HD and flowing lights, will glow away your stress.

Enemies

In making your journey to the end of the world, there are some baddies to encounter. They attempt to smother your light with a single touch. These enemies create a new layer of difficulty to the game and can be quite a pain to get past. Even against your wishes, these unfriendly lights are the only way to get through some levels and need to be kept alive at all costs. Failing to do so, results in having to repeat the level. These enemy lights come in a variety of colors, speeds, and abilities as well. For example, in world three, a white tail follows you and makes it difficult to do even the simplest of movements.

Collecting

Another goal in this game, is to collect all the diamonds found within each world. There are standard yellow diamonds and even more rare green diamonds. The yellow diamonds are counted on the game load screen to track your collection progress. Collecting these has no benefits throughout the game, but can be served as bragging rights to friends and other competitors. Green diamonds are found on purple track lines, which are hidden inside the around 300 levels. Thus providing quite the adventure in locating each one.

Pros:

Nearly endless levels

Unique puzzles

Relaxing

Cons:

Quick to lose interest

Little reward for completion

Final Rating:

Overall Thoughts 8 Out of 10. This is a fun game, but after the third world, I quickly lost interest. If puzzles are your type of game, I would recommend this wholeheartedly. Linelight has a lot to offer in its own creative and inventive way. It’s relaxing nature and awesome puzzle concepts are a nice way to spend a few hours. I also think, Linelight could work as a phone app in the future as well.

* for the sake of transparency, the publisher did provide a digital code for review purposes. *