Delusion

[b]TLDR[/b] Essentially a Lights Out game with a focus on a "spiritual" aesthetics, refined but not very interesting. [11/20⭐, 12h🏅, 3/5💡] [b]Context[/b] Delusion is essentially a light-out game with a few extra mechanics. It's clear that the dev went into a lot of trouble in providing a unique experience, but in the end the gameplay and level design is not particularly interesting or creative. [b]Writing[/b] The (minimal) plot revolves around saving a people that destroyed their world and became powerless, but essentially amounts to a few sentences between chapters. Personally, I found it a bit cliché and shallow, and added nothing to the game. Although to be fair, it fits with the overall aesthetics of the game. [b]Aesthetics[/b] While the puzzles themselves are abstract, each level is accompanied by artwork depicting the level's title. The art style is interesting enough, and it's clear that the dev was very invested in it (there's an achievement for literally browsing the album for 15mins; when you finish a chapter, you get a slideshow of all the art of that chapter). The ambient soundtrack is ok, at least it's not intrusive. There is no voice acting. [b]Gameplay[/b] This is essentially a Lights Out game: clicking a cell flips its state and that of the surrounding cells, and you have to turn every cell off. There's a few different tile types (like rotating lit cells, or bombs clearing lit cells). To be honest, the mechanics in general are not very interesting. And it didn't help that levels weren't particularly well designed. Good level design requires the player to find a key step that unfolds the solution, rather that trial-error. This kind of flipping games usually rely too much on the latter, with levels that are too big and open for proper deductive reasoning. To be fair, this did improve in the last 2 chapters where levels seemed more tightly designed, and this was what nudged me into a positive review. Some levels can be challenging, but mostly due to their open nature as said above. And the difficulty is inconsistent, with tough levels in first chapters and trivial ones in the later ones. Each level also has a bonus collectible (a star) that restricts the opening play and can considerably make a level harder. Another turn-off is the lack of quality of life features and clumsy interface (has the dev ever try to play the game from start to finish?). The undo feature is a source of frustration: you can only undo the last step, you cannot use it twice in a row, and you cannot undo the last step before failing a level since it goes back to the menu. The star system was also a mess: if you fail a few times the star is no longer available and only gets back after passing the level (meaning if you have to solve it again for the star); and there isn't any clear indication of which levels the star was collected (I just discovered later by pure chance that the level name turns golden when the mouse hovers!). The interface is cumbersome, to restart a level you have to go to the menu, to retry a level for the star you have to go to the level selector. Progress is auto-saved but the individual level state is not saved. [b]Value[/b] It took me 12h to get the stars in the 100 levels. You can always revisit previous levels, and there is a single progress slot. Levels open up linearly. Achievements are related to solving levels, getting stars and counting certain kinds of interactions that you'll get trivially as you progress the game. There are also a couple of achievements that require levels to be solved with a particular strategy, introducing an additional challenge. And there's the “look at the artwork” achievement. There's not feature to download/design additional levels. [quote][i]For more puzzle-game reviews and curated lists check out the [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43326007-The-Clueless-Adventurer-Puzzle-Trove/]Puzzle Trove[/url].[/i][/quote]

Hra mě uchvátila. Nejen barvami, ale i příběhem, který se dá krásně napasovat i na dnešní dobu. Navíc je docela návyková, pokud potřebujete vítězit sami nad sebou. Já musela neustále pokračovat, abych zvládla další a další levely. Rozhodně doporučuji, určitě ji nedohrajete za pár hodinek, potrápíte mozek a na konci máte ze sebe dobrý pocit.

Интересная головоломка, довольно сложная. Цель — зажечь определённое количество квадратиков за ограниченное число ходов. Рисунки выглядят так, будто кто-то просто от скуки малевал на паре, а потом решил впихнуть в игру, но остальная графика красивая. Звуковое сопровождение ненавязчивое. Фанатам жанра зайдёт.

This game is very pretty for what is basically a "flip the tile and all it's neighbors" game. There's probably more to it later on, but the core mechanic is to flip the color of the tiles so they all match the target color. Because flipping a tile also flips the 4 tiles that touch it, you'll have to be pretty careful to not exceed your move limit (which I quickly found a bit punishing). I appreciate the polish that went into the game, but find the core gameplay itself kind of dull, and no amount of polish can fix that. BUT, it's definitely not a resource flip and it's clear that a lot of care went into it. So I am recommending it, but only if you like pure logic puzzles of the type I just described. Personally I enjoy a little more variety, in a somewhat less abstract setting.

Very well-made puzzle game with 100 levels and various mechanics. Great visuals and soothing music. Difficulty more on the casual side but the late levels can be quite challenging.

The story with regards to the game itself is a bit hard to understand, yet as much as it is, the overall aesthetic and feel of everything holds up pretty well in terms of immersing not the player but the mind into something peacefully alluring. The premise might be simple enough, light the designated number of blocks and proceed, but in practice, it uses more brain juice than I originally anticipated, it's a great game when you want to experience something rather different for a while, far from the blazingly loud and chaotic mainstream games of today. Most aspects of it are well made which complements the many symbolic art pieces found in the game. Would recommend overall for the select few players looking for a well made and functional game in steam's sea of shovelware cash grab games.

Delusion is an atmospheric puzzle adventure developed and published by Silver Line Games that combines thoughtful turn-based challenges with a mysterious fantasy narrative. Rather than focusing on intense difficulty or fast-paced action, the game is built around exploration, environmental storytelling, and carefully designed puzzles that encourage observation and experimentation. Its greatest strength lies in how it merges gameplay and narrative into a cohesive journey, inviting players into a world that has been scarred by an unexplained disaster and asking them to gradually uncover the truth behind its downfall. The game's story begins in a land that was once filled with color, life, and prosperity. Following a sequence of mysterious events, however, the world has become damaged and distorted, leaving its inhabitants struggling to understand what happened. As players progress through the adventure, they slowly piece together fragments of the world's history while helping restore balance to locations that have fallen into ruin. The narrative unfolds at a measured pace, allowing curiosity to drive the experience rather than relying on constant exposition or dramatic cutscenes. One of the most appealing aspects of Delusion is its approach to puzzle design. The game features a large collection of handcrafted challenges spread across multiple chapters, each introducing new concepts while building upon previously learned mechanics. Rather than overwhelming players with complexity, the puzzles are designed to encourage logical thinking and experimentation. Solutions often require careful observation and planning, making every completed challenge feel rewarding without becoming frustrating. The turn-based structure contributes significantly to the game's accessibility. Players are given as much time as they need to analyze situations and consider their next move. There are no countdown timers, reflex-based sequences, or pressure-inducing mechanics forcing immediate decisions. This slower pace allows players to fully engage with each puzzle and creates a relaxing atmosphere that distinguishes Delusion from many modern puzzle games focused on speed and efficiency. The progression system benefits from the strong connection between gameplay and storytelling. Every puzzle solved contributes to the larger objective of understanding and repairing the world. This relationship gives each challenge narrative significance and prevents the puzzles from feeling disconnected from the adventure. Instead of simply advancing through a sequence of abstract levels, players feel as though they are actively participating in the world's recovery. An additional layer of depth comes from optional objectives attached to the puzzles. These bonus challenges encourage players to think beyond basic solutions and experiment with alternative strategies. Completionists and puzzle enthusiasts will appreciate the opportunity to pursue perfect solutions and collect additional rewards, while players focused primarily on the story can continue progressing without feeling obligated to master every mechanic. The visual presentation is one of the game's most impressive achievements. Delusion utilizes a distinctive hand-drawn art style that gives every environment a unique sense of personality. The contrast between beauty and decay is a recurring visual theme, with damaged landscapes serving as reminders of the catastrophe that transformed the world. The environments are filled with detail and atmosphere, creating locations that are not only visually appealing but also emotionally engaging. The world itself possesses a dreamlike quality that enhances the sense of mystery. Many environments feel surreal and otherworldly, reinforcing the idea that something fundamental has changed. This artistic approach helps create an experience that feels both relaxing and unsettling, encouraging players to continue exploring in search of answers. The setting often communicates its story visually, rewarding players who pay attention to environmental details. Sound design plays a crucial role in supporting the atmosphere. The original soundtrack complements the gameplay with gentle, emotional compositions that reinforce both the beauty and melancholy of the world. Rather than dominating the experience, the music quietly enhances exploration and puzzle-solving, helping establish a reflective mood that remains consistent throughout the adventure. The game's pacing deserves particular praise. Delusion understands the value of gradual progression and never rushes players through its content. New mechanics are introduced carefully, allowing players to become comfortable with existing concepts before additional layers are added. This thoughtful structure keeps the experience engaging while avoiding the information overload that can sometimes affect puzzle-heavy games. Exploration also contributes meaningfully to the overall experience. The world is divided into multiple chapters, each containing unique environments and challenges. Moving between these areas creates a strong sense of progression while continually introducing fresh visual themes and puzzle variations. The changing scenery helps maintain interest and reinforces the feeling of traveling through a living world rather than a collection of isolated levels. The game's primary limitation is that players seeking highly demanding puzzle design or action-oriented gameplay may find the overall experience too relaxed. Delusion is intentionally focused on atmosphere, storytelling, and thoughtful problem-solving rather than intense challenge. However, this approach aligns perfectly with its creative vision and helps establish a distinctive identity within the puzzle genre. What ultimately makes Delusion memorable is its ability to create an emotional connection through subtle storytelling and environmental design. The mystery of the world's collapse, combined with the gradual process of restoration, gives the adventure a sense of purpose beyond simply solving puzzles. Every completed challenge feels like a small step toward understanding a larger tragedy and helping a damaged world recover. Delusion succeeds as both a puzzle game and a narrative experience. Its beautiful hand-drawn presentation, carefully crafted challenges, engaging mystery, and relaxing pace create an adventure that is easy to become immersed in. While it may not appeal to players looking for high-pressure gameplay or extreme difficulty, it offers a rewarding journey for those who appreciate thoughtful design, atmospheric storytelling, and creative puzzle solving. Rating: 6/10

Smooth and mysterious toggle-clicking logic game. Difficulty ramp is gentle.

If you like puzzle games, there is a good chance, that you will like this game.