Unending

If you've ever played or st33d's Ending and Nitrome's Rust Bucket (also designed by Aaron Steed), you know what you're in for. The game's whole gimmick is that it's a roguelite turn based, tile based combat puzzle game with the twist that you can't move or attack diagonally and most importantly, you can't use a turn to sit still. This creates a lot of awkward situations where you have to find creative ways to waste turns without putting yourself at a disadvantage in order to allow enemies to put themselves in disadvantageous positions themselves. Most things die in one hit with enemies dying in 2 hits or being invincible being special gimmicks and enemy behaviour and the outcome of attacks are completely deterministic and very predictable. All the enemies are unique and the graphical style allows you to easily tell them apart and know how they behave and what their gimmicks are by just looking at them. This isn't without a bit of trial and error, however as you'll have to understand the visual design language the game uses through experience. Speaking of trial and error, the game in general is full of it. Thankfully, you can make as many mistakes as you want, including those that put you into a checkmate situation and undo your way all the way to the very first turn if you wish. Only some dungeons have limited/no undos as a special gimmick. It's a great way to allow the player to learn without frustration getting in the way as all mistakes you make just disappear at the press of a button. Though, if you've played turn based puzzle games with unlimited undos you'll know that this doesn't diminish their challenge. The puzzle levels show how each of the many interesting mechanics you'll encounter throughout the randomly generated dungeons can be used in devious ways and even with unlimited undos you might still struggle to figure out how to finish a lot of them. As of the time of this review there are a lot of puzzles that show and teach you the breadth and depth of the game's mechanics and several randomly generated dungeons each with their own gimmick, including one that's endless. Plenty of fun to be had especially for the low price. st33d says that an Android version may come in the future (Rust Bucket and Ending both have mobile versions) and I'm really excited for it as I think it's the perfect platform for such a pick up and play and put down any time kind of game like this. Even if it's not 'mindless' fun it's pretty relaxing to play while being very engaging.

Unending is a really beautifully designed puzzle game! It reminds me strongly of Patrick's Parabox, but with less brain melting physics. There's both a mostly linear set of puzzles (where I've spent most of my time) and a more "roguelike" set of dungeons. It's really a no brainer for the price!

This game is kinda like Sokoban crossed with a traditional roguelike, no block pushing though. Needs more exposure. I played the original Ending years ago on my phone, happy to have it on my Deck now.

good puzzles

this game rules

A procedural turnbased fighting puzzle-game, somewhat reminiscent to DROD. Its really fun and varied to play on android ! (found on itch io . No cross purchase though...)