Mosaic of the Strange

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Mosaic of the Strange is a single player casual puzzle game with mystery and science fiction themes. It was developed by Mark Ffrench and was released on December 11, 2025. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Mosaic of the Strange is a story-driven puzzle game where you solve large logic-based, minesweeper-like puzzles to unlock 144 real-world paranormal case files. Players assist FBI agents Cullen and Brady in investigating a supernatural murder involving cryptids, alien encounters, and unexplained phenomena. Engaging characters and dialogue deepen the immersive mystery experience.

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Single-Player

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96%

Audience ScoreBased on 71 reviews

story14 positive mentions

graphics3 negative mentions

The addition of a narrative and multiple difficulty levels enhances the gameplay experience, making it engaging and replayable.
The puzzles are addictive and provide a satisfying challenge, with a relaxing gameplay style that pairs well with listening to podcasts or music.
The game successfully evolves the Mosaic series by incorporating interesting real-world paranormal case files, adding depth to the puzzle-solving experience.

The story can feel disjointed and may not resonate with all players, leading to a lack of engagement with the narrative elements.
Some players found the puzzles to be overly tedious, especially those with larger grids, which can detract from the overall enjoyment.
The introduction of new mechanics, such as the separate 'alphabet' towards the end, was seen as confusing and unnecessary by some players.

story
53 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
68%
6%
The story aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the added narrative and its integration with puzzle-solving, while others found it forgettable or distracting from the core gameplay. Many noted that the story serves as a backdrop rather than a central focus, with some enjoying the thematic elements and humor, while others preferred the simpler, puzzle-driven experiences of previous titles. Overall, the narrative is seen as a welcome evolution for the series, though opinions vary on its depth and engagement.
- “Same addicting gameplay style but some new ways to present and tell a story using the puzzles we love as a backdrop.”
- “In 'Mosaic of the Strange', there are a number of innovations: an overarching storyline (the investigation of a strange death by government agents); a point-and-click adventure style, with multiple characters, locations, and dialogues; lots of small object-shaped grid puzzles which appear in locations as the plot develops and which trigger new locations or puzzles as they are solved.”
- “The storyline is very good as a framework for the puzzles, and the art and music are, as ever, excellent.”
- “The story doesn't have enough meat to stand alone as a game, but it's very nice window dressing for a primarily puzzle-driven experience.”
- “The detective story is pretty forgettable; not sure it was worth the time investment (both mine and the dev's).”
- “To be honest, I find the way of storytelling very weird and annoying.”
gameplay
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
41%
18%
The gameplay is characterized by engaging, minesweeper-like mechanics that are easy to learn and suitable for casual play, making it a great choice for multitasking. While the core mechanics remain consistent, the game introduces fresh storytelling elements and innovative twists, particularly in the final sections, enhancing the overall experience. However, some players feel that a greater variety of puzzles throughout the game would have improved the gameplay further.
- “I love this as a game to play while listening to podcasts before bed; the minesweeper-like gameplay is engaging enough without requiring much attention.”
- “Same addicting gameplay style but with some new ways to present and tell a story using the puzzles we love as a backdrop.”
- “Later in the game, there are also some additional twists on the minesweeper/picross gameplay that I appreciated.”
- “There is no need to repeat the exact same game mechanic for ~30 hours; a bit more variety in the basic puzzles would have helped a lot (the change at the end is great).”
- “The detective/evidence mechanic took a minute for me to figure out, since it's new to the series.”
- “The story isn't gripping me, but kudos to the developer for evolving the gameplay.”
music
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
20%
20%
The music in the game has received high praise, with many players expressing their enjoyment and even pausing other music to fully appreciate the soundtrack. Described as moody and cinematic, the music enhances the gameplay experience, complementing the storyline and puzzles effectively. Overall, the ambient tracks create a relaxing atmosphere, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “The storyline is very good as a framework for the puzzles, and the art and music are, as ever, excellent.”
- “A moody, 90s crime-thriller-inspired soundtrack gives the whole thing a cinematic feel; one track even evokes memories of Goblin's 'Dawn of the Dead.'”
- “The bit I've really enjoyed, and credit to the author, is the lovely ambient music.”
- “A moody, 90s crime-thriller-inspired soundtrack gives the whole thing a cinematic feel; one track even evokes memories of Goblin's 'Dawn of the Dead'.”
- “An absolute king of 'stick a podcast on in the background and chill out' kinda game (though no disrespect to the soundtrack - it's decent), it really nails that addiction itch and I will be slowly working my way through the dev back catalog!”
graphics
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
33%
50%
The graphics in the game are highly praised for their significant improvement over previous titles, featuring a charming 16-bit aesthetic that enhances the eerie tone without feeling gimmicky. The artwork and animation are standout elements, contributing to an overall visually appealing experience that resonates with nostalgia.
- “The visuals and pacing support the eerie tone without feeling gimmicky.”
- “The graphic aesthetic takes me back to 16-bit days with well done artwork and a nice charm.”
- “The ending was okay, but the animation and art style are a huge step up from the other games.”
- “While Proverb remains my favorite of the series, if only for the artwork, this is a very close second.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game contrasts with its dark storyline, featuring droll dialogue that aligns with the classic charm of point-and-click adventures, providing moments of levity amidst serious themes.
- “Though the storyline is very dark - as are many of the true life cases described - some of the dialogue is drolly humorous in the best tradition of point-and-click adventures.”
- “The game masterfully balances its serious themes with moments of absurdity that had me laughing out loud.”
- “I love how the characters deliver their lines with such wit; it adds a layer of charm to the otherwise grim narrative.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
50%
Players find that "Mosaic of the Strange" and other games by Mark Ffrench offer surprising replayability for a puzzle genre, as they enjoy revisiting the challenges despite knowing the solutions. This suggests that the game's design effectively encourages multiple playthroughs, keeping players engaged and eager to reset and experience the puzzles anew.
- “Plus, I can see it really increasing the replayability!”
- “I'm not sure a puzzle game is the first genre you think of when you think of replayability, but 'Mosaic of the Strange' (and Mark Ffrench's other games) is a notable exception. I've replayed the other ones multiple times and am looking forward to resetting this one and doing it all over again.”
- “I'm not sure a puzzle game is the first genre you think of when you think of replayability. I find myself bored if I already know the mystery or have already solved the puzzles before, but 'Mosaic of the Strange' (and Mark Ffrench's other games) is a notable exception. I've replayed the other ones multiple times and am looking forward to resetting this one and doing it all over again.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly due to a late-game puzzle twist that complicates scanning and reading numbers, leading to a frustrating experience rather than an engaging challenge.
- “The puzzle twist near the end could have been nice, but [spoiler] ended up just making the scanning a lot more tedious.”
- “Feels weirdly cheap and makes trying to read the numbers more tedious.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted through the compelling investigation of special agents Cullen and Brady, which adds significant weight and stakes to the narrative, making players feel more invested in the unfolding story.
- “Special agents Cullen and Brady are not just window dressing; their investigation into a strange murder gives the game emotional weight and real stakes.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is praised for its cleverness and immersive quality, creating an addictive experience that lingers in players' minds even after they finish playing.
- “It is clever, atmospheric, and genuinely addictive, a rare puzzle game that leaves you thinking about the case long after you close the file.”

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2h Median play time

2h Average play time

2-2h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Mosaic of the Strange is a casual puzzle game with mystery and science fiction themes.

Mosaic of the Strange is available on PC, Mac OS and Windows.

On average players spend around 2 hours playing Mosaic of the Strange.

Mosaic of the Strange was released on December 11, 2025.

Mosaic of the Strange was developed by Mark Ffrench.

Mosaic of the Strange has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its graphics.

Mosaic of the Strange is a single player game.

Similar games include Adam Wolfe, Mosaic of The Pharaohs, The Room: Old Sins, Proverbs, 2024: Mosaic Retrospective and others.

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