Dexodonex

About

Dexodonex is a single player action game. It was developed by Volens Nolens Games and was released on December 7, 2016. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"Dexodonex" is a challenging puzzle game set in a cyberpunk world, where players must strategically close all cells in each level without making a mistake. The game features stylish graphics, hypnotic music, and the option for tips and hints. With all levels solvable, "Dexodonex" offers a satisfying and mind-bending experience for those who can keep a cool head.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

78%

Audience ScoreBased on 49 reviews

music4 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

Dexodonex offers satisfying puzzle gameplay that challenges players' spatial reasoning and problem-solving skills.
The game features a level editor, allowing players to create and share their own puzzles, enhancing replayability.
The minimalist, cyberpunk-inspired visuals and atmospheric soundtrack contribute to an engaging and immersive experience.

The lack of a tutorial or clear instructions can lead to confusion, making it difficult for new players to understand the mechanics.
The difficulty curve is uneven, with some levels being significantly harder than others, which can be frustrating.
Technical issues such as long loading times and a bare-bones interface detract from the overall experience.

gameplay
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
55%
27%
The gameplay is characterized by a blend of clever mechanics that challenge players' patience, foresight, and spatial reasoning through progressively difficult puzzles. While the core mechanics are simple and accessible, the game offers depth with complex levels that may require players to strategize extensively, enhancing replayability and satisfaction upon solving. The atmospheric audio design further enriches the contemplative experience, making it a rewarding puzzle game overall.
- “The combination of these mechanics creates an experience where patience, foresight, and spatial reasoning are constantly tested.”
- “Its strengths lie in its clever use of mechanics, its replayability through player-created content, and its ability to deliver a sense of accomplishment once a difficult puzzle is solved.”
- “Gameplay is just a basic pathing puzzle where you put your finger on your iPhone screen and fill in all the hexes.”
- “Gameplay is really simple, but don't let it fool you - some levels are so hard that you literally start to draw them on paper to find the solution there, and only then repeat it in game.”
- “The progression is structured around unlocking a variety of levels, each increasing in difficulty and layering new complications onto the existing mechanics.”
music
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
23%
33%
The music in the game is generally well-received, featuring atmospheric and hypnotic synth tracks that enhance the contemplative gameplay experience. While some players find the soundtrack enjoyable and fitting, others note that it can become repetitive over time. Overall, the audio design is stylish and non-intrusive, though the lack of volume settings for sound effects may be a drawback for some.
- “The audio design complements this with atmospheric and somewhat hypnotic music that fits the contemplative nature of the gameplay.”
- “The music is great and the puzzles are challenging.”
- “Great synth soundtrack (though it gets kind of repetitive after a while).”
- “Average puzzle game, well presented with decent synth music and neon look/feel.”
- “Soundtrack is not awesome, but it's stylish and non-irritating - and this should be totally sufficient for this type of game.”
- “Same if it comes to its background music.”
graphics
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The graphics are functional and prioritize gameplay over visual flair, but many users feel they fall short of expectations for a PC game, lacking resolution options and customization. While some find them acceptable, there is a consensus that improvements are needed to meet the standards of visually impressive titles.
- “While not flashy, the graphics do their job well, keeping the focus on puzzle solving rather than spectacle.”
- “Interesting, but the graphics could be improved.”
- “There's no option to change the resolution and no useful graphics tweaks.”
- “Considering this is being evaluated as a PC game, having the graphics phoned in like this isn't going to result in a high quality, visually impressive game that PC gamers are used to seeing.”
- “Graphically, this game is okay.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The game offers solid replayability through a variety of preset stages and player-created content, enhancing the experience beyond the main campaign. While it effectively engages players with clever mechanics and a sense of accomplishment, some reviewers note that the overall replayability may not be extensive.
- “So overall, a fairly nice puzzle game that will keep you thinking for a while.”
- “Combined with the variety of preset stages, this addition gives the game replayability beyond its main campaign.”
- “Its strengths lie in its clever use of mechanics, its replayability through player-created content, and its ability to deliver a sense of accomplishment once a difficult puzzle is solved.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of these games is heavily criticized as exploitative, with users labeling them as cash grabs that rely on copying and repackaging existing game templates and assets. This practice is seen as unethical, with accusations of flooding platforms like Steam with low-quality shovelware, undermining the integrity of the gaming market.
- “These guys do nothing but copy premade game templates and game tutorials, fill out a few things, stamp out basic levels using the construction kit templates, slap on an asset-flipped set of sprites/assets, and dump them on Steam and into cheap, nasty shovelware game bundles as cash grabs.”
- “Trying to get paid for someone else's game templates and assets... at best, this is shovelware; at worst, it's a scam and cash grab.”
- “Volens Nolens games have shown a repeat pattern of unethically dumping other people's work onto Steam as a cheap, nasty cash grab, through this account or through closely linked or alternate accounts.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's optimization is praised for its good interface and strong performance, making it enjoyable to play. However, players note that navigating the paths can be challenging at times. Overall, it remains a relaxing experience that offers mental stimulation.
- “The interface is user-friendly and offers great performance, making it a relaxing experience that also serves as a good mental exercise.”
- “The optimization of the game allows for smooth navigation, even if following the paths can sometimes be challenging.”
- “I appreciate how well-optimized the game is; it enhances my overall enjoyment and keeps me engaged.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is somewhat compromised by confusing initial rules and buggy in-game help, which can lead to frustration. However, players can find clarity by focusing on a forward-moving strategy from nodes or hexes, making the gameplay more intuitive over time.
- “The game is confusing initially, as the rules could use a bit of explaining, and the in-game help is buggy.”
- “I encountered frequent crashes that made it impossible to enjoy the game.”
- “The stability issues are frustrating; I lost progress multiple times due to unexpected errors.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is enhanced by its atmospheric and hypnotic audio design, which aligns well with the contemplative gameplay, creating an immersive experience for players.
- “The audio design complements this with atmospheric and somewhat hypnotic music that fits the contemplative nature of the gameplay.”
story
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The story conveys a powerful message about resilience and the unpredictability of life, emphasizing that perseverance in the face of adversity can lead to unexpected and rewarding outcomes.
- “The moral of the story is that you never know what life has in store for you. If I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect tedious, particularly due to penalties for undoing actions and the repetitive nature of restarts, which can detract from the overall enjoyment of achieving 5-star ratings.
- “I don't like to get penalized for undoing actions, and things can get pretty tedious otherwise with all the restarts, especially towards the end. I didn't bother trying to 5-star everything.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by the player's journey of navigating through levels and connecting with all nodes, which evokes a sense of accomplishment and connection. This gameplay mechanic fosters a deeper engagement, as players often feel a personal investment in their progress and the relationships formed within the game. Overall, the emotional experience is tied to the challenges and triumphs encountered while exploring the game's environment.