BUTTONSiO is a sci-fi puzzler where you'll work to stop a rogue AI with plenty of tricks up her sleeve

In BUTTONSiO, everything has gone a bit 2001: A Space Odyssey; you're the sole survivor of a space expedition gone awry, an AI of your own design has gone rogue and taken over your ship, and now you find yourself trapped outside in the endlessness of space. The only way you're going to live to fight another date is if you somehow hack your way back in and stop the AI in its tracks.

To make matters even worse, it turns out that failing in your mission will also spell the demise of the entire human race. Goodness me…

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The AI, known as iO, is really rather smart – more so than you, it seems. She has a nasty habit of changing the rules whenever she fancies, meaning you never quite know what you'll be up against next. The odds are forever stacked against you, so it's going to take no small amount of patience and skill to crack her combos and see your mission through to its end.

Like several of the games we're covering as part of Pocket Gamer LaunchPad, I first saw this one back at Pocket Gamer Connects London in January. Developer NXC Games has always been very upfront about the fact that BUTTONSiO is hard, though despite the level of challenge on offer, it's just so darn satisfying on a primal level to push some buttons.

Trying to keep on top of the game's logic while working to discover secret combos can be a real joy, and it's all wrapped up in a simple yet compelling sci-fi yarn.

With the game now out, we're covering it today to highlight some of its latest content, which includes a practice mode, new levels, and a handy mission select screen.

BUTTONSiO is definitely one to try if you're in the market for a tricky puzzler with a fun personality and no shortage of tricks up its sleeve. You'll find it available for download now from over on both the App Store and Google Play as a free-to-play game.