Sometimes, all it takes is to look up for us to discover a refreshing perspective in life, and in Cell to Singularity: Beyond, looking up and past the stars in the sky is indeed as refreshing as can be. The idle clicker game from indie developer and publisher Computer Lunch takes all the complexities of the entire galaxy and simplifies its growth into a single click, making you, the player, the ultimate architect of the whole universe.
Typical of the genre, Cell to Singularity: Beyond offers an extremely satisfying experience when it comes to the therapeutic nature of idle clickers. Considering I've been nursing tennis elbows from playing too many games, I'm actually not supposed to click or type too much because the repetitive movements can aggravate the condition. But with this game, I was still able to enjoy the full experience even without the incessant clicking.
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This is mainly thanks to the game's super chill music, and its screensaver-esque nature where you can simply marvel at what's happening on screen without the need to do anything. The game rewards you for not paying attention, but it also does the same when you do. For example, clicking on a gold asteroid that zips by the screen every now and then yields tons of stardust in an instant, so it certainly made up for my lack of non-stop clicking.
When the elation from a new find dies down, you'll see that each new celestial body will have its own function in your simulation of the universe. For instance, certain "cards" help automate each planet, while others increase the payout of stardust.
Building your universe is a slow and painstaking process, but it never feels cumbersome here as you move from the inner solar system, past the asteroid belt, and beyond. Plus, the sound effects and background music have an almost meditative vibe to them, keeping in sync with the visuals and adding to the low-key and Zen-like feel of the game.
In particular, you can't fast-forward the growth of your galaxy simply by buying your way through evolution. Gems you purchase to support the free-to-play game can only get you so far - it can multiply payout a certain number of times to speed up your process just a teeny tiny bit. But even with a bunch of gems at your disposal, you'll still have to wait - or click - to get enough stardust to unlock new bodies.
You'll also need to collect enough dark matter to rank up certain cards, which you can receive as rewards when clearing objectives or when finishing Astronomy Missions in the sidebar. Plus, there's this cool Constellations feature where you can gain some nifty boosts for your tiny universe, not to mention learn a thing or two about those glorious specks of shimmering lights in the sky.
Cell to Singularity: Beyond is a refreshing change of pace from the numerous mobile titles out in the market today. Its relaxing nature and educational features add to the game's overall appeal; plus, it actually rewards you even if you're just literally staring into space.