LYNE
- March 17, 2014
- Thomas Bowker
- 19h median play time
LYNE is a single-player musical puzzle game with outstanding mechanics and compelling graphics. Its exceptionally designed levels and daily procedurally-generated puzzles will keep you engaged for hours. The game features a soothing dynamic audio, unlockable color palettes, and supports multiple languages. It's deceptively simple yet infinitely complex, offering a calming yet challenging experience.
Reviews
- Great puzzle game with a simple concept that gradually increases in difficulty, providing a satisfying challenge.
- Relaxing and calming atmosphere with soothing sound effects, making it perfect for unwinding.
- Offers a large amount of content with 650 puzzles and daily challenges, ensuring plenty of gameplay.
- Can become repetitive after a while, as the mechanics do not change significantly throughout the game.
- Some puzzles may feel tedious and overly long, leading to potential boredom.
- Lack of unique solutions for puzzles can make the gameplay feel less engaging.
- gameplay269 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is characterized by its simple mechanics, primarily involving connecting shapes on a grid, which allows for a relaxing and intuitive experience. However, many players note that the lack of new mechanics introduced as the game progresses leads to a repetitive and tedious experience, despite the extensive number of puzzles available. While the game offers a well-paced difficulty curve and is enjoyable for casual play, it may not sustain long-term engagement due to its limited variety in gameplay elements.
“The difficulty progression is well-paced, adding new mechanics and constraints as you advance without becoming overwhelming.”
“Given the base game's 650+ puzzles and potential for 20+ hours of gameplay, it represents good value for puzzle enthusiasts.”
“The mechanics are super intuitive, so it feels natural to solve the puzzles.”
“Starts out strong, but then stops introducing mechanics and instead replaces it with size and complexity.”
“This game can be fun for the first couple of sets; however, as no new mechanics are introduced after that, it quickly becomes very repetitive and tedious, and frankly boring.”
“Regrettably, said playtime gets somewhat tiresome after a while despite its increasing difficulty, as there are no new mechanics introduced later on.”
- music266 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in this puzzle game is widely praised for its calming and ambient qualities, enhancing the overall relaxing experience while solving puzzles. Many players appreciate the minimalist sound design, which includes soothing sound effects that accompany gameplay, although some note the lack of a continuous soundtrack. Overall, the audio elements contribute significantly to a tranquil atmosphere, making it an ideal choice for casual play or background listening.
“The ambient soundtrack, composed by Stafford Bawler, and minimal sound effects contribute to a calm gaming environment.”
“The minimalist design and calming soundtrack make for a relaxing gaming experience, while the increasingly complex puzzles will keep your brain engaged.”
“The music and sound effects are calming and rewarding at the same time.”
“There's no music to speak of, though connecting squares makes notes sound off quietly.”
“The game becomes tedious and boring very quickly, and the music has a tendency of exacerbating those feelings.”
“The only thing I wish it had was some background music other than the noises the shapes make.”
- graphics213 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a minimalist aesthetic that many players find soothing and visually appealing. The simple yet elegant design, featuring soft colors and clean lines, enhances the gameplay experience without being distracting, making it ideal for a relaxing puzzle-solving environment. Overall, the visuals are well-received for their ability to complement the game's mechanics while providing a calming atmosphere.
“The graphics are simple but stylish and more than serve their purpose.”
“Lyne has the perfect combination between minimalistic design and aesthetics that make it recognizable and a bright and pleasing game to look at.”
“The graphics and sound design also work great to my taste.”
“The visuals of the game also led to a boring feeling, as it's just a couple of shapes.”
“Not recommended for those who are seeking a high graphic adventure.”
“The graphics are simple, but this doesn't matter in this puzzle game - I would say the simple graphics help it a lot.”
- replayability44 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game offers limited replayability through its fixed level sets, but it compensates with daily puzzles that provide a continuous stream of new challenges, effectively ensuring infinite replayability for players. While some may find the lack of randomized puzzles a drawback, the daily challenges keep players engaged long after completing the main content. Overall, it strikes a balance between a substantial number of levels and ongoing replay value through daily updates.
“While there's room for improvement in areas like accessibility and replayability, Lyne remains a worthwhile choice for puzzle enthusiasts seeking a refined, no-frills gameplay experience that offers hundreds of levels at an affordable price point.”
“The gameplay itself is reminiscent of mobile puzzle games like 'Flow Free', and like those games, it enjoys the same replayability; I've found myself playing this game in spurts and coming back to it year after year to get those next few achievements.”
“With the daily puzzles feature, it basically never runs out of replay value, so for $3, I've definitely gotten my money's worth.”
“Regarding replayability, Lyne doesn't offer randomized puzzles or multiple solutions to levels.”
“Additionally, there is little to no replay value, which can be a big factor for some people.”
“The replay value for the game is low.”
- story35 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 80 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating a deeper narrative about unraveling personal mysteries and family history, while others note the absence of a traditional plot, deeming it a puzzle game that doesn't require a story. Despite the lack of a compelling narrative for some, others find the ending impactful and the overall experience engaging, highlighting that the game can still be enjoyable without a strong storyline.
“I became a passenger of life on a never-ending quest to unravel the mysteries of existence.”
“Bert is an unseen character which is not shown in the game, but through solving puzzles and understanding the greater picture, a tragic and unearthing story is revealed about your family's past.”
“Breathtaking story and solid gameplay.”
“For a puzzle game with no story whatsoever, this game had a really good ending.”
“This game has no story.”
“Simply put, there is none, but it's a puzzle game; not everyone is equipped with a cheesy story to go along with why you're figuring out puzzles.”
- atmosphere33 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is consistently praised for its calming and minimalist design, featuring soothing sounds and a subtle color palette that enhance the puzzle-solving experience. Players appreciate the ambient tones and pleasant sound effects, which contribute to a relaxing environment ideal for both casual and challenging gameplay. Overall, the game's unique and magical atmosphere makes it a perfect choice for those seeking a tranquil gaming experience.
“The soothing music and the crisp visuals make for a relaxing game atmosphere.”
“The music and sound effects are very ambient and really help drive a pleasant, relaxing atmosphere home.”
“Its atmosphere and simplicity is perfect for unwinding with the easier puzzles and activating your brain with the harder levels.”
“I don't know how the game designer did it, but this game creates a unique magical atmosphere.”
“It's pretty quiet, but the sound that comes from you clicking something or dragging a line through it just reverberates and, again, adds very well to the atmosphere.”
“Although some levels seem to take hours to solve, the atmosphere of the game prevents you from getting frustrated.”
- grinding24 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- -8 % neutral mentions
- 96 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being repetitive and tedious, particularly as players progress through levels without the introduction of new mechanics. While some find enjoyment in the initial stages, many reviewers note that the experience becomes increasingly frustrating and boring, especially towards the later levels where difficulty spikes without variety. Despite these criticisms, a few players appreciate the challenge and addictive nature of the puzzles, suggesting that the game may still appeal to dedicated puzzle fans.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Grinding in this game is rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
“The grind is challenging but ultimately satisfying.”
“It feels repetitive and tedious.”
“This game can be fun for the first couple of sets, however, as no new mechanics are introduced after that, it quickly becomes very repetitive and tedious and frankly boring.”
“The game becomes tedious and boring very quickly, and the music has a tendency of exacerbating those feelings.”
- humor15 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players finding it both funny and intuitive, often leading to laughter and enjoyment. Many users appreciate the clever use of achievements to create humorous messages, and the game's lighthearted nature contributes to a relaxing experience. Overall, the humor is seen as a standout feature that enhances the gameplay and community engagement.
“Very funny and intuitive!”
“Funny thing about it is, you can use the letters from the achievements to spell something in the achievements showcase.”
“The last level's humor is so fun!”
- optimization7 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The game is highly optimized, running smoothly across a wide range of hardware, from older smartphones to modern PCs, with low system requirements and no apparent bugs. It features excellent touch screen controls and performs well on both mobile and PC platforms, ensuring a seamless experience for players. Overall, users appreciate its smooth performance and beautiful design.
“The game's low system requirements also mean it runs smoothly on a wide range of hardware, from older smartphones to modern PCs.”
“I didn't encounter any bugs, the game runs smoothly, it looks beautiful, it has a calming and serene soundtrack, and genuinely makes you think.”
“But don't let the fact it started as an app scare you away; it's perfectly optimized for PC.”
“Controls are smooth and simple, optimized for mobile, but playing on Steam for the achievements is great too.”
- monetization5 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The monetization model for the mobile versions includes a free trial with optional in-app purchases for additional level packs, but players appreciate the absence of intrusive ads and popups. Overall, the game is seen as fair and enjoyable, with no aggressive push for in-game purchases.
“One good thing is it doesn't ask you for in-app purchases.”
“The mobile versions sometimes offer a free trial with in-app purchases for additional level packs.”
“I thought this was some achievement logo cash grab, but it's actually a pretty good game.”
“No in-game purchases.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized as a thrilling experience that evokes a range of feelings, from intelligence and accomplishment to moments of confusion. Players express a childlike joy in overcoming challenges, highlighting the game's ability to elicit strong emotional responses throughout.
“An emotional thrill ride.”
“Completing every level made me feel like a little child getting a new toy.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
While the puzzles are praised, the stability of version 1.3 is criticized due to graphical glitches, prompting some users to revert to the previous version for a smoother experience.
“Excellent puzzles, however I had to go back to version 1.2 since 1.3 has some graphical glitches. Hopefully those can be fixed; then I'll change this review!”