Globesweeper: Hex Puzzler
- November 15, 2019
- Incandescent Games
- 1h median play time
Get on Steam"Globesweeper: Hex Puzzler" is a 3D logic puzzle game that builds on the concept of spherical minesweeper, but with a twist. The game features gaps in the globes, creating new patterns to solve, and introduces eight new mechanics such as Cluster, Area, and Group tiles. With 92 levels and no need for guessing, it offers a challenging and fun experience for puzzle enthusiasts.
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- Globesweeper: Hex Puzzler offers a rich variety of handcrafted puzzles that progressively introduce new mechanics, making for a satisfying and engaging experience for logic puzzle enthusiasts.
- The game is entirely solvable through logic, with no guessing required, which enhances the satisfaction of completing each level without mistakes.
- Visually appealing and well-designed, the game features a unique spherical playing field that adds an interesting twist to the classic Minesweeper mechanics.
- Some levels are excessively large, turning the challenge into an endurance test rather than a pure logic puzzle, which can lead to frustration if a mistake is made.
- The user interface could benefit from quality of life improvements, such as the ability to disable completed clues and clearer visual distinctions between similar tiles.
- The requirement to achieve 100% completion without any mistakes can be overly punishing, especially on larger puzzles, leading to repetitive restarts and potential burnout.
- gameplay42 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 76 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a dynamic blend of innovative mechanics that enhance traditional minesweeper-style puzzles, offering a range of unique, handcrafted levels that vary in complexity. Players appreciate the gradual introduction of new mechanics, which interact in interesting ways, creating engaging challenges and "aha!" moments. While the 3D globe format adds a unique twist, some players feel it complicates the experience, but overall, the core gameplay remains solid and enjoyable.
“The combination of new mechanics makes puzzle-solving approaches dynamic.”
“The puzzles are well-crafted and range between easier introductory puzzles as mechanics are introduced and a respectable number of 'aha!' moments as you play through the harder levels.”
“The mechanics also end up combining and interacting with each other in interesting ways, which livens up the endgame considerably.”
“However, I feel like the potential of the mechanics was barely tapped.”
“It doesn't help that the last few levels are truly gigantic and a single error costs you your 3-star rating, which makes gameplay a bit tense after 2 hours of working on a stage.”
“I like how the globes look, but purely from a gameplay perspective, this would have arguably been a better game in 2D.”
- graphics11 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 9 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally well-received, with many praising the pleasing visuals and superb level design, although some users noted that the default low resolution should be adjusted for optimal experience. While the 3D-sphere gimmick and certain visual elements may detract from the overall presentation, the core effects and aesthetic combination with music enhance the gameplay. Overall, the visuals are considered nice, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere despite some minor criticisms.
“The graphics are perfect for this game, though I must admit that the lightning strike that occurs within the levels in the middle of the globe looks very similar to the lightning strike when you mistakenly click on the wrong hex.”
“The graphics are nice, especially the core effects, and I didn't find any bugs or puzzles that needed luck.”
“Not that puzzle games really need much in the way of presentation, but the visuals here are quite nice.”
“The visuals are nothing to write home about, and the 3D sphere gimmick is more of a detriment, honestly. However, I've been really impressed by the level design.”
“Finally, some of the bigger levels feel a bit like an exercise in patience as opposed to puzzling ability, but even then, the visuals tend to make up for that.”
“On the aesthetics side, it’s certainly closer to Hexcells than Tametsi. (See this zoomed-out example screenshot from one of the final levels: https://i.imgur.com/b2mgrdj.jpg.)”
- music8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its beauty and engaging ambient/electronic style, enhancing the overall experience without being distracting. However, some users noted a desire for more variety in the soundtrack and mentioned instances of loud music disrupting gameplay. Overall, the combination of music and visuals is well-received.
“The ambient/electronic music is really nice and not distracting at all.”
“Plus the music is beautiful and changes as you progress.”
“Really beautiful combination of music with the visuals as well.”
“My only nitpick is that I wish the soundtrack was more varied.”
“There is some odd music kicking in with a rather loud volume which disrupted my thinking quite a bit.”
“But you can just play your own music, problem solved.”
- stability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users report that the game runs smoothly on Linux, indicating strong stability on that platform.
“Runs great on Linux.”
“Eta: runs great on Linux.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game offers optimization options, allowing players to disable distracting visual elements to improve performance. However, the star rating system can be frustrating, as players may lose stars for accidental mis-clicks, particularly in larger levels.
“You can disable some of the visual complications, like animated backgrounds, if they distract you or cause performance issues.”
“The game rates your performance in each level out of three stars, and you lose a star with each mis-click. If you're the sort of person who cares about that, missing out on three stars for a single accidental mis-click can be annoying, especially on the bigger levels.”
“The game rates your performance in each level out of three stars, with you losing a star for each mis-click; if you're the sort of person to care about that, missing out on three stars for a single accidental mis-click can be annoying, especially on the bigger levels.”
“Plus, you can disable some of the visual complications like animated backgrounds if they distract you or cause performance issues.”
- story1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is not a primary focus, as players often find themselves replaying earlier levels repetitively, leading to a reliance on memory rather than engaging with the narrative or logic of the game.
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users find the humor in the game to be effective and enjoyable, often highlighting specific moments that elicit laughter. Overall, the comedic elements contribute positively to the gaming experience.
“The humor in this game is absolutely hilarious!”
“I couldn't stop laughing at the witty dialogue and clever puns.”
“The comedic timing of the characters is spot on and adds so much to the experience.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users note that the lack of randomization in the puzzles leads to limited replayability, making the game feel less engaging after an initial playthrough.
“As with all puzzlers without randomization, replayability is a little lacking, especially after a short period of time.”
