Brain Cube

Let’s get one thing straight. The shape you control in Brain Cube is not actually a cube, as the title of the logic-based puzzler would have you believe. It’s a cuboid.

The whole premise of the game is based on this fact, so I felt it necessary to flag up the issue as soon as possible. Considering this is a game of the brain-tickling variety, surely somebody at the developer Ximad should be able to tell the difference?

Roll play

Geometric pedantry aside, Brain Cube is standard shape, space, and logic-based puzzle game. You control a cuboid, with the aim of plunging it length-ways into a set goal.

It’s a puzzle design that has been repeated many times, not just on mobile devices but also in dozens of browser games. The finer details such as the obstacles involved might be variants on the usual template, but suffice to say you’ll know it as soon as you see it.

It’s not a new concept, but nor is it always straightforward. There are spikes that you have to deactivate using switches, wooden panels that fall away from under you if you stand on them vertically (remember your physics lessons on pressure and mass, folks), and glass panels that fall away after you’ve crossed them.

Later levels even see the cuboid split into two pieces, thus increasing the difficulty and bringing the game further into line with its own name. But not quite. ‘Brain Cubes’ would be an equally obvious misnomer, since splitting your shape is a uncommon challenge, rather than something that happens in every level.

Don’t be square

There are 50 of these levels spread across five chapters, with the first level of each being accessible from the start, in keeping with the anti-frustration laws most puzzle game developers have somehow unilaterally adopted.

Sadly, this doesn’t really feel like a lot, especially considering many other titles are offering levels in the hundreds or even coming up with randomly generated ones.

It also doesn’t take a lot of time to solve a level. Even if you’re intellectually stumped by it, you can eventually luck your way to the finish just by trial and error. Although you do get more points for finishing in the fewest moves, there’s not much else to lose by taking your time.

It might be good for a wasted hour or two, and it'll definitely appeal to the no-nonsense logic-minded Sudokutrolls that live among us. But Brain Cube lacks the character and longevity of other puzzlers on the market.

Brain Cube

While the logic-focused fiddling will appeal to those who revel in their faculties of spatial awareness, others will find Brain Cube a bit plain-faced and throwaway
Score
Brendan Caldwell
Brendan Caldwell
Brendan is a boy. Specifically, a boy who plays games. More specifically, a nice boy who plays many games. He often feels he should be doing something else. That's when the siren call of an indie gem haunts him. Who shall win this battle of wills? Answer: not Brendan.