CrossCells

About

CrossCells is a single player casual puzzle game. It was developed by Matthew Brown and was released on May 26, 2017. It received positive reviews from players.

CrossCells is a single-player puzzle game with excellent mechanics and a good soundtrack. As described by the game, CrossCells is an ambient logic puzzle game where players solve puzzles by using number clues to remove tiles. It features 50 brain-teasing puzzles for players to enjoy.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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85%

Audience ScoreBased on 473 reviews

gameplay10 positive mentions

grinding8 negative mentions

Engaging and challenging puzzles that require logical thinking and basic arithmetic skills.
Minimalist design and relaxing soundtrack create a calming atmosphere for puzzle-solving.
All puzzles can be solved without guessing, providing a satisfying sense of achievement.

The game lacks a reset or undo feature, forcing players to restart puzzles upon making a mistake.
Some puzzles can feel overly reliant on trial and error rather than pure logic, especially in later levels.
The ripple effect following the mouse can be distracting and visually irritating.

gameplay
53 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
75%
6%
The gameplay of Crosscells is centered around solving math-based puzzles that involve addition and multiplication, with a gradual introduction of new mechanics that keeps the experience engaging. While the puzzles are generally satisfying and cleverly designed, some players find the trial-and-error approach frustrating due to insufficient explanations of certain mechanics. Overall, the game offers a unique twist on the nonogram genre, but may not reach the same level of enjoyment as previous titles in the series.
- “I really like how the puzzles introduce a new mechanic every 5 levels.”
- “Players interested in taking on a lot of complex math formulas will find a rather satisfying puzzle game that ramps up well with a variety of mechanics.”
- “The game gradually introduces a few new mechanics.”
- “The puzzles are interesting in the abstract, and the system has some very interesting implications, but the actual gameplay just isn't nearly as strong as the other -cells games.”
- “Some of the core mechanics of the game are not explained properly (if at all), such as multipliers.”
- “Instead, one is forced to trial and error to work out how the mechanic works.”
music
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
40%
15%
The music in the game is consistently praised for its calming and relaxing qualities, providing a satisfying auditory backdrop that enhances the overall experience. While many appreciate the minimalistic and elegant soundtrack, some reviewers note that the repetitive nature of the music and sound effects across the series may feel stale over time. Overall, the ambient music effectively supports the gameplay, helping players to think and enjoy the puzzle-solving process.
- “The crisp, clean, and calming atmosphere and relaxing soundtrack makes for a pleasant experience.”
- “Music is amazing - it keeps you calm and helps you think.”
- “The soundtrack is, like the design, clear and relaxing.”
- “Having played a fair number of the Matthew Brown logic games now, I will say the copy-pasted aesthetic, music, and sound effects are starting to wear thin.”
- “Artistically, it's also a step back from the poor music and annoying water-ripple effect put in for no reason.”
- “Though I must say that this minimalistic music and aesthetics or whatever that meme word was... it got real old by now.”
graphics
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
65%
15%
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their minimalist and elegant design, reminiscent of previous titles by Matthew Brown, particularly hexcells. Users appreciate the clear aesthetic and ambient sound effects, although some find the optional ripple effect distracting, which can be disabled in the settings. Overall, the visuals contribute positively to the game's abstract puzzle experience, despite some mixed feelings about the new graphical elements.
- “Still, beautiful sound effects and visuals.”
- “Great visuals and ambient sounds, with lots of numerical puzzles.”
- “They all nail the abstract, minimalist puzzle game aesthetic.”
- “The UI and graphical style feel like a step back from Hexcells Infinite.”
- “I feel right at home... except for this new 'wavy' aesthetic whenever the cursor flows over something.”
- “There's a 'wave ripple' effect that follows your mouse that I personally find annoying, but you can just disable it in the graphics options.”
grinding
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly in the later levels where multi-dimensional calculations and the need to reset progress can slow down gameplay significantly. While the minimalist design is appreciated, the repetitive nature of solving complex puzzles often overshadows the challenge, leading to frustration rather than enjoyment.
- “This is a super slow and tedious multi-dimensional calculation of tens, or sometimes hundreds.”
- “In general, this game from about level 20 on is just tedious.”
- “The resetting everything on the larger/harder puzzles is really, really tedious.”
replayability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
28%
43%
The game has limited replayability due to the absence of procedurally generated or user-designed levels, with only 50 levels available that can be completed in under an hour. While some players may revisit it for a few hours of entertainment in the future, the overall consensus is that the replay value is minimal, especially considering its price.
- “I still recommend Hexcells Infinite as the most enjoyable and relaxing puzzle game of this genre, and it also has way more replayability as it can generate new puzzles for you.”
- “I can see some replayability in a few years, but for now that's it.”
- “There are no procedurally generated levels nor user-designed levels, a precedent set by hexcells infinite, so the replay value is reduced.”
- “Replayability is limited, but if you wish to, you can always revisit the game in the future for a few hours of entertainment here and there.”
- “No level generator; after completing the 50 levels, there is almost no replayability.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a crisp, calming environment complemented by a relaxing soundtrack and pleasant sound effects, creating a soothing experience for players. While the atmosphere is appreciated, some users feel that other games in the series offer a more rewarding completion experience. Overall, the minimalist design and intuitive puzzles contribute to a tranquil ambiance that enhances gameplay.
- “The crisp, clean, and calming atmosphere, along with the relaxing soundtrack, makes for a pleasant experience.”
- “Relaxing atmosphere with nice sounds and a great feel to the buttons.”
- “The slow atmospheric music helps relax you as you think, creating a wonderfully designed minimalist puzzle experience.”
- “The atmosphere feels bland and uninspired, lacking the depth and immersion that I expected from this game.”
- “Despite the beautiful graphics, the atmosphere is hollow and fails to evoke any real emotion or connection.”
- “The game tries to create a tense atmosphere, but it often falls flat, leaving players feeling more bored than engaged.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews highlight a mixed emotional response to the game, with some players appreciating the wholesome and fun aspects, while others express frustration over puzzle difficulty, indicating a lack of emotional attachment that would justify a full-price purchase.
- “Ain't buying games for a full price unless I have a real emotional attachment to it.”
- “Solving most of the puzzles made me feel more frustrated than accomplished.”
story
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The story of the game is criticized for losing coherence and direction, particularly when it introduces complex elements like multiplication, which detracts from the overall narrative experience.
- “In my opinion, this game lost the plot once it started incorporating multiplication.”
- “The story felt disjointed and lacked any real depth, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “I found the narrative to be predictable and uninspired, failing to offer any meaningful twists.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players noting the clever and quirky nature of the writing, suggesting that the creators possess a unique blend of intelligence and comedic talent.
- “Those who created this game must be crazy, smart, and funny at the same time! XD”