Back when I was reviewing diamond ($2.99) From Michael Kamm on Steam Deck I really like it, but I think it’s better suited to play on iOS since it works best with touch controls on Valve’s handheld devices. Fast forward to today, and the spline-based puzzle game about forming curves has made its way to mobile devices, and I’ve been enjoying replaying it on my iPhone and iPad. Even though this isn’t quite close to puzzle games of the same type, it reminds me of the classic Osmosis the elegance of it when I started playing, and diamond Despite its issues, it’s one of the best action puzzle games of the year.
diamond There’s a very clever way of onboarding and introducing new mechanics. You start at the most basic level in Chapter 1, learning how to drag a sphere to move a curve on top of a numbered object. Your goal is to get the rotating sphere on said curve to follow a path in a specific order, and this is where the puzzle aspect comes in. How you interact with the sphere, level changes, obstacles, and even movement direction will change how you solve the puzzles. diamond It’s not a difficult game, but it does have some levels that made me want hints.
Now, diamond Comes with over 120 puzzles and what I like is that you don’t have to solve every puzzle to move forward. Some levels introduce mechanics that completely change the game as well, but I love that it never gets forgotten as an elegant and relaxing puzzle game, even if later levels become more complex with different path requirements and obstacles. There’s always a hint system, but it’s not a direct answer to later levels, you still have to think about forming the curve correctly.
accessibility diamond Not just related to it being easier in terms of puzzle solutions or hint systems, but also its controls. diamond is a simple game of dragging a sphere with responsive controls to align different curves correctly. You don’t have to chase any pixel perfection or worry about timers. Think of it as a great game when you have a few minutes to kill and want to do something to keep your brain functioning.
Visually, diamond Very enjoyable. I loved the animation work, the accelerated movement when solving puzzles, and the transitions between levels. Even if you make a mistake, it’s accompanied by a delightful little animation. All of this is coupled with excellent performance on every iOS device I’ve tested: iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 12, and iPad Pro (2020). I have almost no complaints about the iOS version, but the lack of iCloud save support is disappointing. if you plan to play diamond On iOS, use a device now.
Since I tested it on both devices, I ended up preferring it on the iPad over the iPhone. It looks and runs great on both, but I prefer playing these types of games on the big screen. I feel the same way sticky world Although this requires faster input. If you do have the option of playing on both devices, I recommend completing the first three levels and seeing how you feel before choosing a specific device. I also recommend using it on iOS rather than Steam, as these games work better with full touch controls, and the iPad is better for playing touch screen games than the Steam Deck.
Aside from the lack of iCloud save syncing, some of the later puzzles remain diamond Come to think of it a little, but there’s nothing wrong with this creative, elegant, and relaxing puzzle game. Considering how perfectly controlled it is with touch controls, I didn’t bother using the controller.
diamond The game was already well worth its asking price on Steam earlier this year, and the lower price on mobile makes it even easier to recommend. If you like relaxing puzzle games, diamond is essential. I hope we see more from developer Michael Kamm in the puzzle realm in the near future.
