PyroMind

[h1]Introduction[/h1] Have you ever wondered what could be the logical evolution of Minesweeper? You know, that little time waster first released by Microsoft in 1990. Windows users and predominantly government employees seem to shun it in favor of Solitaire though. Well, I have an answer for you, since an indie developer created a puzzle game with “detonations” and it’s also far less random than its aforementioned ancestor. PyroMind is the Steam debut for Dmitrijus Babicius and I have to say that as the work of a sole developer, I’m pleased with the concept even if there’s room for improvement. It’s been quite a while since I played a contemporary puzzle title which absolutely didn’t hold my hand through its gameplay. Instead it has opted for a natural learning process of rinse and repeat until you get better. [h1]Story [/h1] There really is no point in rage quitting. Also, no story here but that was to be expected. This is a genre which really doesn’t require a narrative, in order to relate to its players. That’s not to say that you won’t encounter a few surprises if you “stick around” long enough. It does take a bit until you reach the molten core of PyroMind. Alas, you’re given enough options after completing the first couple of levels in Classic Mode. Aptly called “Campaigns” branch towards Time Trial and a Battle Arena which features capable bots and certain mechanics I shall detail further below. Overall, the lack of a storyline does not hurt a game such as PyroMind which at least makes some effort in providing context to its gameplay. Both the characters and the bombs are represented by squares which have their own names and functions. The most common explosives are the black Pobombs, followed by the rarer green types called Limonkas. Character squares feature a “personality” selector which refers to its various options as “Minds”. Lots to choose from and each brings something new to the board. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1851765364 [h1]Graphics[/h1] Ah, GameMaker: Studio, we meet again! This particular graphics engine doesn’t seem to get along with the Steam Overlay as well as its competitors. Say what you will about Unity, but that one never got between me and my well-deserved Steam screenshots flawlessly linked to my profile. PyroMind required a small update from the developer before it finally allowed proper linking with the images, so crucial to my articles. In all honesty I wasn’t at any point doubting that the official screenshots for this title might be “doctored” in any way. That’s AAA game procedure, afterall. Yet I still wish to use the images taken by yours truly and I was fortunate to encounter a supportive developer which obliged me. You can now enjoy PyroMind in all its Steam glory. It scaled perfectly to my native resolution and never featured a single crash, glitch or frame rate drop. [h1]Audio[/h1] There’s a surprisingly adequate selection of songs and sound effects in this title. Perhaps I was getting far too used to the incessant elevator track, which most indie puzzles implement. PyroMind didn’t cut any corners in the audio department, so here’s something else to appreciate about it. You can even randomize or skip to the songs which caught your attention. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1851765485 [h1]Gameplay[/h1] Now we finally get to the part where this game truly shines. Or should I say explode? It’s the right kind of detonation. A fireworks display, if you will. As far as complexity is concerned, PyroMind ticks all the boxes as it leaves little room to uncertainty. The random factor is not decisive in this case. You will have to observe patterns and adapt to them from one level to another. Veritable missions, given the increased likelihood of encountering “specialized” bombs as you progress through the campaign. You know a red bomb spells danger far more than any other color. The Empress enjoys shattering Minds along with anything else on the board. Do not treat any squares with superficiality. It may not be chess, but strategy is still heavily involved. And it’s turn based, naturally. I liked the unrestricted movement which allowed crossing from one board side to the other, without any borders in the way. The Classic Mode has a straightforward progression system. You need to rake in those points by defusing as many colored squares before they explode. Time only passes as you move your character shape. Here’s the main catch: you want to pick the bombs while their timers still show 10 or 9 instead of the volatile 2 or 1 which means an imminent explosion is about to take place. Avoiding the blast radius is always dependant on proximity to other bombs and their type, since Limonkas explode in a long grid pattern similar to the Bomberman series. Using different Minds for your character square shall allow faster point accumulation in regards to the various bomb types they specialize in. You’re even encouraged to spend some of those hard earned points on new Minds which enhance the bonus further still. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1851765228 Time Trial is self-explanatory so I shall now focus on my favorite game mode in PyroMind. The Battle Arena! Here you shall either play with your actual Steam friends or against highly-trained bots. What shall it be, a clash between the Fiery and Icy Minds? Or perhaps Clown versus Zanni? There’s a very clever mechanic regarding a laser which pushes in either side of the Arena’s splitscreen. What does that mean? Depending on which side is defusing bombs faster and acquiring points, the laser moves from its neutral point at the center of the stage and restricts the area of one player or another. This adds even more challenge to the task, as if it wasn’t hard enough. It’s still worth it though and it certainly helps if you’re already accustomed with the Minds and bombs from playing enough of the Classic Mode. [h1]Verdict[/h1] And there you have it. If you probably thought you’g get a far weaker experience from this curiously inexpensive title, than from that moccacino you didn’t buy in favor of PyroMind, now you know better. More often than not, you can’t really put a price tag on creativity. I just hope we may see some sequels or new concepts from DBabicius soon enough. [h1]Strong Points[/h1] + Steam Achievements. + Gameplay features adequate diversity. + The right amount of challenge, involving strategy as well. + Supportive developer, quickly fixed the Steam Overlay issue. [h1]Weak Points[/h1] - Rather steep learning curve. - No Steam Trading Cards yet. [b]Rating 80/100[/b] [quote]This review was submitted for [url=http://steamcommunity.com/groups/ImperialReviews]Imperial Reviews[/url] through the generous contribution of [url=https://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561197969145048]Erander♣.[/url] Following my [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/25802515-Imperial-Reviews/]Curator Page[/url], will help me keep publishing new reviews as soon as I can. I appreciate your support![/quote]

[b]pyromind[/b] is a blast to play in every sense of the word. you're controlling a mind that has to avoid or defuse bombs appearing after every turn. in classic mode nothing happens if you don't move, so technically you can take your time and think of the next step, but sooner or later you'll be caught in a chain explosion anyway and mind blown! I'd really like an optional chain explosion highlighter, but it's not a game to complete, it's more about reaching a high score. regular bombs have a 10-turn counter and explode in a 3x3 area, green ones go off in a straight line in all 4 directions, triggering whatever's in their way, of course, and you don't want to wait until an empress reaches 0. as you progress further and further in a run, different things start to happen, like 2 bombs appearing every turn, and don't forget that you can leave the screen on one side to appear on the other, it can make a huge difference. time attack is the same, except you only have 60 seconds to score as much as possible, and in the battle arena you are up against your friends or various bots. getting a 30-point advantage here starts moving the laser in the middle towards the opponent, and you can snipe them by letting green bombs explode instead of defusing them, but it's still a really tough challenge, though I got a lot further than I'd expected, managed to complete 7 matches, while I only reached tier 5 in classic mode and tier 4 in time attack. there are various minds (characters) to unlock with their own special skills, like more points for green bombs, more points for defusing bombs that are about to explode or about to appear, and so on. you get these new minds by completing certain tiers in the game, and some you have to buy with diamonds, but it's really (and I mean EXTREMELY!) grindy. a single diamond is awarded for 100 points or for defusing an empress bomb, so during an average run you can get maybe 5, a bit more if you're lucky. you can also unlock a minigame where clicking on really fast things for a diamond can get you more, but it's really not worth bothering with, and the most expensive unlock costs 5000 (five thousand!) diamonds, the one before 3000, the one before 1000, so if you want all of them, you're in for an extremely long haul. either more diamonds should be awarded (for winning arena matches or even just rounds, or 1 for 100 points, 2 for 200, etc.) or costs should be lowered. from a technical standpoint it's mostly fine, there are resolution options and windowed mode, rebindable controls too, but the exit button is easy to miss in the menu, have to press esc instead, and audio settings are lacking as well. no volume sliders, and there's only sound & random music, sound & a specific track (there are only 3), only sound or everything off. another thing I'd like changed is how fast restart works by pressing tab, as you still have to stare at the screen for a few seconds while the game tells you that you're still on the same tier you were during the previous 500 attempts. sure, it's faster than waiting for all the points to be counted slowly, but it should be instantaneous. and leaderboards should either have their own in-game screen or bring up the steam overlay and show them there, not in a new window in my browser. all in all, it's a really enjoyable game, but keep in mind that it's extremely difficult, frustrating and random, unlocks will take forever, as will achievements, if you're into them, but the price is more than reasonable, so it's worth considering even for a couple hours of fun.

Intense and addictive puzzle game. Do recommend!

Nice little game, will play it from time to time for sure.

Entre le démineur, le roguelite, le puzzle, jouable en solo, en duel ou contre l’IA, Pyromind est un petit jeu qui pour 3€ vous occupera un moment et plus si affinité. Non natif, tourne bien via Proton. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRePA2lKKfk

Pyromind takes a simple mechanic and executes it well. It's not particularly complex, but it doesn't have to be. Each turn one or more bombs appear on the field. Each bomb explodes after a certain number of turns, and their explosions can cause surrounding bombs to explode as well. You play a "mind" that runs around the field defusing bombs while avoiding explosions. The trailer doesn't adequately convey what gameplay is like, and the still images don't help either; in practice gameplay is much more straightforward than the trailer might make it out to be. The tutorial takes about 30 seconds and you're good to go. The game feels responsive. Interface is minimalistic and the field is easy to parse, which is helpful to get you into that flow state where you just react without thought. Each "mind" has some variance to its playstyle, though not by much. However I do feel that the difficulty is a little overtuned. The last couple levels for each mode felt pretty much impossible. I think while the game is presented in a series of increasingly more difficult levels, you're really intended to think of the game in more of like a score attack fashion. For a couple dollars I think it's a worthwhile pick for sure.

very cool puzzle game

PyroMind is a compact action-puzzle hybrid developed by SneakyBox and published by Untold Tales, designed around explosive chain reactions, grid-based strategy, and competitive dueling. At first glance, it resembles a classic bomb-centric arcade puzzle, but beneath its simple presentation lies a surprisingly tense and demanding system that blends deliberate planning with sudden, high-pressure moments. Rather than separating puzzle logic from action reflexes, PyroMind intertwines them, asking players to think ahead while constantly reacting to volatile surroundings. The core gameplay revolves around navigating small arenas filled with various types of bombs. Movement occurs on a grid, and every step carries weight. Players must decide whether to defuse bombs, reposition them, or deliberately trigger explosions to clear space and manipulate the battlefield. Because chain reactions can rapidly escalate, even a minor miscalculation may result in immediate failure. This design creates a persistent sense of urgency, where foresight and timing are equally critical. The balance between strategic planning and reactive survival forms the heart of the experience. One of the defining traits of PyroMind is its unpredictability. Different bomb types introduce unique behaviors, forcing players to adapt their strategies rather than rely on repetition. Some bombs detonate in straightforward patterns, while others create more complex or delayed reactions that reshape the arena. Learning how these elements interact becomes essential for mastering advanced stages. The game’s escalating difficulty ensures that players cannot simply memorize solutions; instead, they must develop an intuitive understanding of explosive mechanics. Beyond single-player modes, PyroMind offers competitive multiplayer options that transform its puzzle mechanics into head-to-head contests. In these matches, players attempt to outmaneuver opponents within shared arenas, using bombs not just as obstacles but as tactical weapons. The competitive layer adds unpredictability, as human opponents introduce dynamic strategies that AI cannot fully replicate. Adjustable bot difficulty further extends replay value for solo players, offering scalable challenges for both newcomers and experienced participants. Character selection adds subtle variety. Multiple playable characters come with unique perks that slightly alter gameplay approaches, encouraging experimentation with different playstyles. While these variations do not radically change the core mechanics, they introduce enough nuance to keep repeated sessions engaging. Unlockable arenas and additional modes further broaden the experience, offering incremental rewards for continued play. Visually, PyroMind adopts a minimalist aesthetic that prioritizes clarity. The grid-based arenas are cleanly presented, ensuring that bombs, hazards, and player positions remain easy to track even during chaotic chain reactions. Explosions are vivid and satisfying without obscuring important gameplay information. The audio design complements this clarity with sharp sound effects that emphasize detonations and environmental changes, heightening tension during critical moments. The soundtrack maintains a brisk pace that aligns with the game’s energetic tone. Despite its strengths, PyroMind’s focused design can feel repetitive over longer sessions. The primary mechanic—managing bombs within confined arenas—remains consistent across modes. While new bomb types and competitive elements introduce variation, the fundamental loop does not dramatically evolve. Players seeking narrative depth or extensive progression systems may find the experience limited. However, for those who appreciate tight mechanics and skill-driven challenges, the simplicity becomes a strength rather than a weakness. Ultimately, PyroMind stands out as a distinctive indie title that successfully merges thoughtful puzzle design with the immediacy of arcade action. Its explosive chain reactions, competitive multiplayer modes, and skill-based structure create a tense and rewarding experience. While its scope is modest and its mechanics specialized, it delivers a concentrated dose of strategic chaos that appeals particularly to players who enjoy high-risk, high-precision gameplay within a streamlined framework. Rating: 6/10

A good puzzley game to play whenever you have a few minutes to waste. For the low price, there is a surprising amount of non-obvious mechanics involved, and I had fun discovering them. Took me eighteen and a half hours to get all the visible achievements.

Fun game, but I keep getting 8/9 wins on the final boss and choking