CROSSNIQ+

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Crossniq+ is a fast-paced, arcade-style puzzle game with a sci-fi twist, inspired by late 90's Japanese visual design. The objective is to rearrange tiles to form crosses of the same color, with gameplay focused on speed and technique rather than combos. It features single-player, local multi-player, and PvP modes, including Endless, Time Attack, and Versus, with split-screen and an ingenious soundtrack. Overall, Crossniq+ offers a challenging and entertaining experience for both casual and experienced players.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

90%

Audience ScoreBased on 83 reviews

graphics16 positive mentions

story2 negative mentions

CROSSNIQ+ features a unique and engaging puzzle mechanic that combines elements of classic games like Tetris and Puyo Puyo, making it easy to learn but hard to master.
The game is visually stunning, capturing the Y2K aesthetic perfectly, and is complemented by a fantastic soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
It offers multiple game modes, including a relaxing chillout mode and a competitive versus mode, providing a variety of ways to enjoy the gameplay.

The game suffers from frustrating input setup issues, particularly with controllers, which can deter new players and lead to a poor initial experience.
There is a lack of online multiplayer options and AI opponents in versus mode, limiting the game's replayability and social interaction.
Some players have noted performance issues, including long loading times and high CPU usage, which can negatively impact gameplay on lower-end systems.

graphics
49 mentions
33 % positive mentions
61 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their vibrant and nostalgic y2k aesthetic, which many players find visually appealing and reminiscent of late 90s to early 2000s design. The overall presentation is described as sublime, with a clean board aesthetic and engaging visuals that enhance the gameplay experience. While some users noted minor graphical glitches and a desire for more customization options, the game's art style and soundtrack contribute significantly to its charm and enjoyment.
- “The overall presentation is sublime and the game is an absolute masterwork of y2k aesthetics.”
- “The aesthetic is executed flawlessly, and the local multiplayer has a cute character select.”
- “If you're a fan of the y2k aesthetic, you'll adore every bit of the design in this game.”
- “Visually, it's absolutely fantastic in almost every regard save for a few minor graphical glitches and one really glaring part, which I'll get to later.”
- “On the technical side of things, it's a bit underwhelming as well; the only graphical settings are a small amount of resolutions and some accessibility options for the backgrounds; this ain't no Serious Sam game.”
- “I would recommend this game only for people who absolutely love that aesthetic (or during sales to play with a friend) and I hope this game would eventually get an enhanced update with more options in the near future.”
music
47 mentions
47 % positive mentions
47 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its fantastic soundtrack that captures the essence of the y2k aesthetic and evokes nostalgia for 90s electronic music. While some players noted limitations in track selection during gameplay, the overall quality and enjoyment of the music significantly enhance the gaming experience. Many recommend listening to the soundtrack even outside of gameplay, highlighting it as a standout feature of the game.
- “The music in this game is great, as expected with y2k games.”
- “If you aren't interested in playing the game, then you should at least look up the soundtrack and listen to it.”
- “The music is fantastic, too, and so far I haven't found myself tiring of the soundtrack.”
- “You can't switch the music track you have on when you choose to retry, so you have to quit and then change it once you play again.”
- “Although, I do believe that in-game there are only about three songs to select from (I'm not sure if there's a way to unlock more, but I don't think so), and that's kind of disappointing.”
- “Decent puzzle game, but the music is sort of technobland and the gameplay wears thin after a while.”
gameplay
17 mentions
24 % positive mentions
59 % neutral mentions
18 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Crossniq+ is centered around creating crosses by shuffling tiles, blending elements of color matching and slider puzzles in a unique way. While the mechanics are simple and enjoyable, some players find the introduction of "frozen tiles" and other restrictions can lead to frustrating moments. Overall, the game is praised for its innovative approach and fun core mechanics, making it a worthwhile experience for puzzle enthusiasts.
- “But Crossniq essentially takes the common puzzle trope of matching colors, which is common in hundreds of puzzle games, and applies it to the slider puzzle formula. It mixes color match/match 3 games and slider puzzles together, and it executes them very nicely. I didn't think a puzzle game could be innovated in mechanics, and I was very impressed.”
- “There's an appropriate mix of specialty tiles and consequences for how you deal with them, both in direct gameplay and recorded score.”
- “That said, the gameplay is encumbered by not only requiring a cross instead of a single line, but also very early on starts preventing certain tiles from wrapping around and eventually crippling entire chunks of the grid with 'frozen tiles' (which once spawned in a corner that prevented every possible cross and forced a game over).”
- “Crossniq+ has a ton of issues with its gameplay.”
- “The main gameplay loop consists of you shuffling a puzzle board to make crosses - intersections of a horizontal and vertical line of the same color.”
story
3 mentions
0 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
The game lacks a dedicated story mode and additional unlockable content, focusing instead on gameplay modes and customization options like music and backgrounds available for in-game currency.
- “There's no story mode, no extra modes to unlock. You can buy additional music and backgrounds (with in-game currency, of course, no microtransactions) but that's about it.”
- “My only recommendations would be the following: CPU vs. mode, ladder mode, story mode, online vs. mode, and custom mouse icons. You can have multiple icons to get from the shop.”
character development
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
-33 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
Reviewers appreciate the significant improvements in character development, noting the addition of unique character designs and unlockable features that enhance the game's personality. However, opinions are mixed regarding the quality of the character designs, with some describing them as cute while others find them lacking. Overall, the effort put into character development is recognized as a positive aspect of the game.
- “The developer really went the extra mile with a lot of the features. He could've just left the game as it was, but he went above and beyond to not only improve the game but also to give it personality.”
- “The character designs are really cute!”
- “The character development adds depth to the gameplay, making each character feel unique and engaging.”
- “The last thing of note in Crossniq+ is that the character designs are bad.”
stability
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is generally strong, with users praising its visual quality; however, there are some minor graphical glitches and one significant issue that detracts from the experience.
- “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
- “I experienced constant lag and frame drops, which ruined the overall experience.”
- “There are numerous bugs that disrupt gameplay, leading to frustrating moments.”
replayability
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game has limited replayability due to the absence of online multiplayer and the confusing lack of an AI opponent, which detracts from the overall experience.
- “Not that much replay value - no online multiplayer is strange, but the lack of an AI opponent is just confusing.”