Quite a nice puzzle game. The design is clean and the controls feel good. I do think there are too many puzzles before any challenge really starts. (I would say it only began from puzzle 24) But since they are quick, it isn't a deal breaker. There are a few weirdly trivial puzzles right after difficult ones. Number 51 and 54 are examples. While the change in background music is a good idea, I found the difference between the songs jarring, as it had a huge effect on the vibe of the experience.
This game is evil. Eeeeeeeeevil. When I first started playing it I was like “this is simple enough,” but that’s how puzzle games always get you, isn’t it? By about the fiftieth level I was in too deep to let it beat me. I made it to the end of the demo, but not without some serious mental yoga.
I think this might actually have the most polish I’ve ever seen in a puzzle game. I like how you can click and drag lines and just leave them to tinker with later if you need to, like you’re moving physical objects around as you think about the best solution. I also like how walking back lines can reset lines that you’ve overwritten, so you don’t lose too much progress if you realize you’ve made a mistake.
The music and aesthetics in this game are peerless for the genre. It keeps the experience interesting without being distracting. I don’t know what it is, but the music just stimulates me so that I never get tired of iterating through strategies for getting through the levels.
I think this is also a good game for demonstrating that puzzle games are harder to build than they look. It’s not just that this game has to contain a number of interesting puzzles built using a mechanic that’s easy to understand. The difficulty has to curve in order to reward solving a difficult challenge, so that some of the harder puzzles function as “boss fights.”
I don’t play a lot of puzzle games, but this one kept me playing until the bitter end no matter how frustrated I got, which I think is the highest possible recommendation I could give. Ten out of ten, would play more.
I love this comment. As the developer, I think you really nailed the points that I put the most effort on. Thank you so much, it really warms my heart!
I just finished the last puzzle, and I just wanted to come here to say that I really had a fantastic time with this game. I'm not usually the kind to play minimalist puzzle games, but I love the concept and I'm really impressed with just how many puzzles you managed to get out of it.
I've kind of been using it as my "morning crossword" routine and playing through a few puzzles when I get up, to wake my brain up for the day. I guess that I'll have to find a new one, now, but this has been perfect over the months that I've been playing through it. Thank you for making such a gem of a game. <3
Yes, it's a well known fact that puzzle 145 has two solutions and puzzle 383 has four solutions. This was done on purpose to create two achievements, which are unlocked when you find all possible solutions to each puzzle (obviously the itch version can't support achievements but the puzzles remain the same).
Ah okay! Didn't realize that since I own it on Itch. Great game btw! Very simple and addicting, I use it to wake myself up and get myself thinking before working on schoolwork.
I really love that. The sound effects are so well done they give the minimalist design real depth. It almost feel like hacking an alien state of the art system. It's also relaxing and thought inducing similar to staring squares and numbers while resolving some sudokus. Nice concept !
doubt this will help now but you start by going right, then up and doing an anti-clockwise circle with the 1s until you reach the single one in the fourth column.
I really like this game! I think I've played this the most up till now of all the games from the racial justice bundle. Perfect for when I don't know what to play in the evening when I don't have much time.
This game is exactly what I needed. I got it in the Bundle for Racial Justice and Equality and I'm so glad I found it while trawling the massive list. Thank you for this gem!
Hey, thanks a lot! To make it even more enjoyable, soon there will be a free update with (optional) background music, adjustable color themes and some accessibility options. Keep having fun!
Neat little game. Quite addictive, actually. I've made a habit of playing it while listening to video essays.
One minor thing (spoilers?): I kind of expected a little more fanfare when you get through the whole game and finish the last puzzle. But it just loops around and takes you back to the tutorial and that's that. Might be nice to add a congratulations screen, where you can also plug stuff like "this was a game by Daniel Nora, here's my twitter, and here's some other games by me that you might like".
(I played the full Windows version, going up to puzzle 501, if that makes a difference.)
Having now completed the final level, I can say that this is my favorite puzzle game of this year - I kept coming back to it day after day until I ran out of levels to solve. I'll be keeping an eye out for any more of Daniel Nora's work.
What a brilliant little gem! I'm up to level 200 and loving the twists in some of the levels. It's deceptively complex and expertly crafted. Can't believe I've still got another 300 levels to complete!
I have finished the demo and found it very fun and challenging! Some of the levels require quite a bit of thought, so it's very rewarding to figure them out. Excellently done!
I'm a big fan of Nikoli-style pencil logic puzzles and I think you've got a hit here. Slowly working my way up the difficulty ladder.
I'm interested to learn whether you can characterize the difficulty of a random level and generate endless levels. But for now I'm enjoying the design and curation.
Lovely gameplay, sweet difficulty curve so far. Puzzles are complex enough to test the brain but not to overstress it, which I'm finding a beautiful thing right now. Actual sense of accomplishment on working out the puzzles, which can sometimes be lacking in other games!
I love how I can play the game right in my browser window. The puzzles are so much fun to solve! The concept is so simple and elegant and walking through the more complex levels is so rewarding when the solution falls into place. Highly recommended and completely worth its low price.
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Quite a nice puzzle game. The design is clean and the controls feel good. I do think there are too many puzzles before any challenge really starts. (I would say it only began from puzzle 24) But since they are quick, it isn't a deal breaker. There are a few weirdly trivial puzzles right after difficult ones. Number 51 and 54 are examples.
While the change in background music is a good idea, I found the difference between the songs jarring, as it had a huge effect on the vibe of the experience.
Show post...
nice
This game is evil. Eeeeeeeeevil. When I first started playing it I was like “this is simple enough,” but that’s how puzzle games always get you, isn’t it? By about the fiftieth level I was in too deep to let it beat me. I made it to the end of the demo, but not without some serious mental yoga.
I think this might actually have the most polish I’ve ever seen in a puzzle game. I like how you can click and drag lines and just leave them to tinker with later if you need to, like you’re moving physical objects around as you think about the best solution. I also like how walking back lines can reset lines that you’ve overwritten, so you don’t lose too much progress if you realize you’ve made a mistake.
The music and aesthetics in this game are peerless for the genre. It keeps the experience interesting without being distracting. I don’t know what it is, but the music just stimulates me so that I never get tired of iterating through strategies for getting through the levels.
I think this is also a good game for demonstrating that puzzle games are harder to build than they look. It’s not just that this game has to contain a number of interesting puzzles built using a mechanic that’s easy to understand. The difficulty has to curve in order to reward solving a difficult challenge, so that some of the harder puzzles function as “boss fights.”
I don’t play a lot of puzzle games, but this one kept me playing until the bitter end no matter how frustrated I got, which I think is the highest possible recommendation I could give. Ten out of ten, would play more.
I love this comment. As the developer, I think you really nailed the points that I put the most effort on. Thank you so much, it really warms my heart!
By the way, if you love the soundtrack, you can listen online for free on the website of the company that it was licensed from (Soundstripe). Here's the full playlist: https://app.soundstripe.com/private_playlists/music/318541
this is the most puzzley puzzle game there is out there!
7 6 was the hardest level for me
Simple but super fun !!
Great game!
good game but my puny brain can't get past level 5
I havent played a puzzle like this is SUCH A LONG TIME ITS SO GOOD
The music is so groovy
Right
Good
Hi, I also purchased Cardinal Chains in a bundle 1 year ago. I'd like a Steam key as well. Thanks!
I'm almost running out of those, but if you quickly email me your proof of purchase I might still have one for you!
I just finished the last puzzle, and I just wanted to come here to say that I really had a fantastic time with this game. I'm not usually the kind to play minimalist puzzle games, but I love the concept and I'm really impressed with just how many puzzles you managed to get out of it.
I've kind of been using it as my "morning crossword" routine and playing through a few puzzles when I get up, to wake my brain up for the day. I guess that I'll have to find a new one, now, but this has been perfect over the months that I've been playing through it. Thank you for making such a gem of a game. <3
Thank you so much, that's one of the best comments I've ever had!
I purchased Cardinal Chains in a bundle 1 year ago. Can I have a Steam key? Will be very thankful.
Check your email!
this is one of the best puzzle games I play in a long time, nice job on it. keep it up
Este juego es buenísimo, me encanta 10/10
This game is great, I love it 10/10
A very fun and well polished game!
Entertaining puzzle game. The aesthetic/design is nice.
Those 2s and 5s, though. They are so confusing in that kind of font!
Level 383 has four solutions.
Solution 1:
Solution 2:
Solution 3:
Solution 4:
Changing the three "3's" that are colored red in the Solution 4 picture to a number greater than three would fix this.
Yes, it's a well known fact that puzzle 145 has two solutions and puzzle 383 has four solutions. This was done on purpose to create two achievements, which are unlocked when you find all possible solutions to each puzzle (obviously the itch version can't support achievements but the puzzles remain the same).
Ah okay! Didn't realize that since I own it on Itch. Great game btw! Very simple and addicting, I use it to wake myself up and get myself thinking before working on schoolwork.
Great game! looks pretty too.
I really love that. The sound effects are so well done they give the minimalist design real depth. It almost feel like hacking an alien state of the art system. It's also relaxing and thought inducing similar to staring squares and numbers while resolving some sudokus. Nice concept !
Really fun!!!
[in browser mode] How do you complete level 15?
doubt this will help now but you start by going right, then up and doing an anti-clockwise circle with the 1s until you reach the single one in the fourth column.
I really like this game! I think I've played this the most up till now of all the games from the racial justice bundle. Perfect for when I don't know what to play in the evening when I don't have much time.
This game is exactly what I needed. I got it in the Bundle for Racial Justice and Equality and I'm so glad I found it while trawling the massive list. Thank you for this gem!
Hey, thanks a lot! To make it even more enjoyable, soon there will be a free update with (optional) background music, adjustable color themes and some accessibility options. Keep having fun!
Neat little game. Quite addictive, actually. I've made a habit of playing it while listening to video essays.
One minor thing (spoilers?): I kind of expected a little more fanfare when you get through the whole game and finish the last puzzle. But it just loops around and takes you back to the tutorial and that's that. Might be nice to add a congratulations screen, where you can also plug stuff like "this was a game by Daniel Nora, here's my twitter, and here's some other games by me that you might like".
(I played the full Windows version, going up to puzzle 501, if that makes a difference.)
The game worked in the browser on my Android device! Relaxing gameplay, worth supporting the creator.
A nice, simple puzzle game. Got up to level 50 tonight, can't wait to see what I'll get stuck on next.
Having now completed the final level, I can say that this is my favorite puzzle game of this year - I kept coming back to it day after day until I ran out of levels to solve. I'll be keeping an eye out for any more of Daniel Nora's work.
What a brilliant little gem! I'm up to level 200 and loving the twists in some of the levels. It's deceptively complex and expertly crafted. Can't believe I've still got another 300 levels to complete!
up to level 9-8, sooooo stuck :| (any tips?)
great game though!
it's mostly wiggly like a brain...
start by going down... and i don't want to spoil too much. Write if you need more hints
Very well done!
I have finished the demo and found it very fun and challenging! Some of the levels require quite a bit of thought, so it's very rewarding to figure them out. Excellently done!
Neat game!
For the mac version on Catalina, I had to do the chmod +x trick (https://superuser.com/questions/898124/the-application-someapp-app-can-t-be-open...).
Very fun, have played through around 50 levels and I am really enjoying it so far!
I'm a big fan of Nikoli-style pencil logic puzzles and I think you've got a hit here. Slowly working my way up the difficulty ladder.
I'm interested to learn whether you can characterize the difficulty of a random level and generate endless levels. But for now I'm enjoying the design and curation.
Thanks for the game.
Lovely gameplay, sweet difficulty curve so far. Puzzles are complex enough to test the brain but not to overstress it, which I'm finding a beautiful thing right now. Actual sense of accomplishment on working out the puzzles, which can sometimes be lacking in other games!
I love how I can play the game right in my browser window. The puzzles are so much fun to solve! The concept is so simple and elegant and walking through the more complex levels is so rewarding when the solution falls into place. Highly recommended and completely worth its low price.
neat game! love how it looks simple/minimalist, but has great puzzles!
This game is a ton of fun! I'm a huge fan of this type of puzzle game. Thank you for building a lot of fun levels. :)