Lines is a pretty puzzler held back by its random nature

Each week, we ask members of our App Army and ask for their feedback on the latest and greatest releases on mobile. One top pick this week was Gamious's minimalist puzzler Lines.

Let's see what our App Army had to say...

Lines is elegant and addictive. I love how smooth it is, and its very simple design. I also enjoy its controls, which are easy to get to grips with. Pretty cool how there are different modes too. Pretty unique overall!

An interesting concept, and not one I've seen done before. The music and visuals are fine, but if it's meant to be a puzzler I'm not sure why your opponents' dots seem to be in different places when you restart the level.

Surely this makes the game design "restart until you win" rather than "place your dots more tactically next time". Apart from using more and more intricate line drawings, I don't see how the game can get more interesting, so after 10 levels I feel like I'm about done.

If I told you I was playing a game about filling up different shaped tracks with a colour before other opponents, you would look at me like as if I was a madman. However, Lines has charmed me with its magic.

This game should be boring to me, but it made me smile within minutes. I find it easy to play, and I feel compelled to play on, like it's tempting me with its feel-good gameplay and soothing music.

The lines are represented along the bottom of the screen, and when you take your turn it all plays out in front of you with soothing chords as the lines fill up at the top and your progress bar races ahead at the bottom.

This game is worth a play, just make sure you're sat on the sofa with your feet up.

At first glance I thought this was going to be a nice, relaxing puzzle game. I could've never been so wrong. Despite it's simplistic visuals and calming background music, this game is not a bedtime story.

Pretty early on in the game you will find yourself nervously cheering for your dot to block the others off, or facepalming yourself as the opponent wins by a hair.

The game is not a piece of cake. It'll often take several tries to win each level. That's where the major grievance comes in: it draws a huge red X for every time you fail, and a green tick for each win.

In all honesty no perfectionist wants to have a bar full of red Xs in the level menu right in front of their face. It feels like I'm a failure!

In terms of game modes you unlock plenty as you go on. It feels refreshing to be able to switch to a different, even harder, game mode from time to time.

Another aspect making this game great is its originality, which is not that common with today's mobile games. It's easy to just copy something that has been done before, but getting a completely new take on a puzzle game is very difficult.

Lines is wonderfully minimalistic. The difficulty is somewhere around medium, as some levels can be tough to beat the first time if you don't put enough thought into what you're doing.

I'm not sure how fair it is that the opponents' dots are randomised, as the difficulty of each stage is based upon the placement of their dots, so it's just down to luck sometimes.

Overall the game is really innovative and addictive, making it one of my favorite puzzlers at the moment.

I love Lines. It's based on a really good idea - paint as much of the level as you can using a limited number of dots that stretch out.

It might seem too easy at first, but hold on as the levels ramp up in difficulty pretty fast. I really like the Bronze, Silver and Gold trophy idea.

In the second mode you erase opponents' dots to win. In the third, you draw lines in a very different manner. I haven't unlocked the last mode yet, but I'm looking forward to that one.

In my opinion it's a must play. There are so many ideas that it'll take some time before you're bored with them. It's like 4 minigames that you can play in one package. Give it a go people - it's really good!

Lines didn't really impress me. Yes it's different and innovative, but the game itself isn't that great. The game is quite challenging, but as you progress to the game, it becomes more like tapping at random places and hoping it works.

The art-style looks clean and there are lots of game modes to try out, but overall it doesn't feel like a real game. I feel like Lines is missing something.

The devs could have done a lot more with the music for example, it sounds like a monkey is jamming a piano. Okay? makes great use of its sounds through replicating famous melodies - it would be great to see something like this be implemented in Lines as well.

Every time you start the game up, you have to navigate through all the levels again, which is time-consuming, and that often keeps me from playing it.

Well, I think the other modes you can unlock bring more to the table gameplay-wise.

I've played the first 30 levels and the jury is still out on this one. So far every level I've played I've beaten either on the first or second time.

I've not had any difficulties in completing the levels, which in theory should make the game boring. However, I'm finding the opposite is happening. I find it strangely therapeutic... but I'm not convinced yet.

I feel the same girlygeekgamer - I shouldn't like this game but I do. Have you played the other modes?

I've completed 30 levels and unlocked eraser mode, but I haven't tried it yet.

It's not bad. A twist on the normal levels, but you get to erase the opponents' dots.

I'm not sure about you folks, but when I had to beat the same level 10 times in a row, it was pretty difficult for me.

Yeah, I've hit a point that really puts me off this game! You have to complete the same level three times in a row to unlock "Bronze" and levels 36-40 five times in a row to unlock "Silver," and the next few levels.

Seeing as the levels are so simple and easy to complete, presenting no challenge, completing them five times in a row to unlock the next levels is mind-numbingly boring. I think my play stops here...

It was really good at the beginning though.

Ah. Yes, I'm seeing what you mean Kym. What a letdown.

I am impressed by the fact that Lines does something no other game has done before. It's a unique concept, and games like Lines are what make me fall in love with mobile gaming.

Content-wise this game has enough to keep you busy as there are many modes to play with, each requiring a different approach. New levels unlock if you win a Bronze medal on any level (by grinding), and there's also the daily challenge too.

What I don't like so far is that the strategy required for winning seems to rely on trial and error rather than a proper strategy. Other than that, this is another solid addition to the App Store that blurs the line between art and games.

Only that the rinse and repeat method should only be used on washing, not gaming.

I totally agree Kainen - I don't want to have to repeat levels to move on! Since when is that fun? If it wasn't for that, I might've carried on for a few more therapeutic levels.

I'm really not happy about it either. I was enjoying relaxing to it too.

When I heard that Lines was a zen-style puzzler, I jumped at the chance to get hands on with it. I was expecting a by the numbers experience, but how wrong I was!

Lines is clean, classy, and contemporary. Most of all, it's also hugely entertaining and downright addictive. As others have said, it's a pretty unique concept too.

In an App Store that's positively littered with knock-offs and F2P monstrosities, that goes one hell of a long way. It's not perfect, of course.

If you want to progress, you need to adopt the mindset that grinding is good, which is clearly not for everyone. Lines would also benefit from a multiplayer mode. Asynchronous or otherwise, if implemented correctly, it could add endless replayability.

Lines, in its own unique way, really reminds me of Threes! They're both put together with impeccable attention to detail, both are massively moreish, and both will occupy my iPad home screen for a very long time to come.