6 games to play after Happy Glass
Fluid formation
Have you been addicted to Happy Glass recently? Plenty have, it seems, with the casual physics puzzler topping charts in the US and UK.
As ever with these flash-in-the-pan casual hits, there's nothing particularly outstanding about Happy Glass.
Its various elements - sketching out level furniture to guide objects to a level exit, as well as guiding fluid from one point to the next - have been done countless times before. And done better, we might add.
You want examples? Sure. Just load up any of the following games.
1
Where's My Water?
The original water-redirecting hit, Where's My Water comes from a golden era for casual physics puzzlers on mobile.
Here you're rerouting the flow of water, not by drawing platforms, but by carving out paths into solid earth with your finger. It's deliciously tactile, beautifully animated stuff.
If you're intent on not paying a penny for your mobile games, there's Where's My Water 2. For a much less irritating, pure experience, pay up front for the original.
2
Perchang
You're not drawing out platforms or handling water in Perchang, but the dozens of little bouncing balls that you need to guide have a certain fluidity to them.
The way in which you do this is ingenious, with various gravity-manipulating contraptions coming into play. There are tiltable platforms, fans, magical bounce hoops and more - all controlled with just two buttons.
It all looks beautiful too, with a sharp 3D world and a brilliantly realised physics engine.
3
Icebreaker: A Viking Voyage
We've spoken about Icebreaker a lot. It's the game that first brought the talents of Nitrome to our attention, and it still stands up was a wonderfully witty and varied physics puzzler.
The goal is to guide a bunch of tumbling vikings to their boat, which is achieved by slicing out chunks of ice with your finger in increasingly imaginative ways.
Stacked back to back with this wonderful game, Happy Glass rather pales into insignificance.
4
World of Goo
The oldest game on this list, but comfortably one of the best. World of Goo might be more than eight years old, but it's a physics puzzler of uncommon depth.
This time you're guiding a bunch of sentient blobs to the level exit. How? By using them to build tottering bridges, towers, and other precarious structures.
Tying it all together is a wonderfully evocative fantasy world that will have you rooting for the very components at your disposal. Even the staunchest Happy Glass defender couldn't claim that.
5
Enigmo 2
Another golden oldie, Enigmo 2 is pretty much the natural hardcore end point to any fluid-physics obsession that was started by Happy Glass.
It sees you redirecting streams of water droplets within crazy gravity-warping environments. In 3D.
Enigmo 2 might just melt your mind, particularly when it starts introducing lasers and plasma particles.
6
Feed Me Oil 2
This clever, charming little puzzler has you redirecting gloopy oil into a receptacle using platforms, fans, and revolving doors.
Which makes it sound a lot like several of the other games on this list. It's the nature of those receptacles that's Feed Me Oil 2's USP. They're huge gas-guzzling monsters with cute faces.
This gently taxing, thoroughly charming fluid-fiddler is the perfect next step for Happy Glass players who don't want anything too taxing.