It's time to get a little dark and griddy! And by that, I mean, this week in the JayIsGames Vault, we're featuring some of the greatest grid-based games for you to gleefully go and grok. It's so hip to be square!

• Back to the Cubeture: Era 1 - Confession time: this fair reviewer had actually never come into contact with EdibleCastle's humorous Cuboy before encountering this 2009 point-and-click game. But, as advertising methods for your flash cartoon series goes, putting together a hilarious isometric adventure where a cheerfully oblivious protagonist turns the world of the wild west into his whimsical playground has to be among the best. Polished, hilarious, and unabashedly oddball, Back to the Cubeture: Era 1 will definitely put an angular smile on your face.
• Gridz - Originally this puzzler by Atomic Cicada was released merely as "Grid", before being semi-sequeled semi-remade in 2009 with a "z" attached to the end of the title. And that added little bit of EXTREME SPELLING made all the difference, since Gridz is a true classic. It's a joy to see how the mish-mash of presented pipe-segments coalesces into an elegant solution. Perhaps it's just my latent OCD coming through, but when I'm somehow able to put order into the chaos of each of Gridz's forty levels, I get the sense that things are somehow being made right in the world.
• Grid Game - Finally, before this edition of The Vault goes off the grid, I'd like to share with you this charming little chain reaction webtoy. Released by Mark James in 2005, Grid Game feels like it would be as at home on your office-top desk as it does on your computer screen. The simplicity of clicking a cell, which then rotates a cell next to it, rippling out in a cascade of clicks and chirps is strangely beautiful. The "high score" function was definitely a devious inclusion on the part of the developer, since it just about guarantees that I won't be able to stop playing until my coffee break has well and truly disappeared in a flurry of rotating circles. Totally worth it.

While we welcome any comments about this weekly feature here, we do ask that if you need any help with the individual games, please post your questions on that game's review page. Well, what are you waiting for? Get out there and rediscover some awesome!

Little Luca from Glowingpine Studios is a unique one button physics puzzle game that puts you in control of a bunch of floating colored things that change shape. Really! As two friends gazed upon the peaceful night sky something terrible happened. Stars fell from their perches, leaving behind a glowing red void. And the only person/creature that can set things right is you. Time to get wobbling!

Levels in Little Luca are filled with objects the game itself describes as "wibbly-wobbly morphing" things. All you have to do is touch the forms to change their shape, using momentum and physics to catapult around the stage to collect stars and make it to the exit. Each shape morphs in a different manner when activated, leaving you some room to experiment and practice your timing before you get a perfect score. In later levels you'll unlock new things to play with, including gravity wells, tractor beams, whales, and maybe even a volcano.

The music and artwork in Little Luca deserves a mention, as both are spectacular in their own right. The game is a bit on the challenging side, but because everything in the world is so happy and cheerful, you never get frustrated, just motivated. Getting the hang of Little Luca takes some time, as it isn't your usual puzzle game by any means. But it's got all the ingredients of a solid mobile release, and you'll happily sit down and poke each little wobbly blob until the sky is filled with stars once again!

He ain't Stormageddon, Dark Lord of All, but we love him just the same. He's Bustermcthundersticks, and he so happens to be a point-and-click puzzle game by Ninjadoodle, where the aim is to track down 33 tiny ninjas hiding throughout a house filled with tricks and puzzles. To play, just point, click, and drag to interact and keep your eyes open for clues that will tell you how to use the devices in each room.

Bustermcthundersticks is a weird name for an even weirder game, but it makes for a great snack-sized piece of puzzling that won't weigh you down... though you will have to contend with getting that soundtrack stuck in your head. While a few of the ninjas are simple reflex grabs, tracking down the others requires both an eye for detail and deciphering contextual clues that at first glance either don't make much sense or seem like simple decoration. Some of the puzzles are definitely more obscure than others, so don't be afraid to experiment or bang on walls if you need to. Short, stylish and sweet makes for a great casual gaming trifecta, and Bustermcthundersticks is another welcome little gem from Ninjadoodle to brighten your day. Now if you excuse me, I have to go inform my husband about his new nickname.

Play Bustermcthundersticks

In-Finity's Sokoboom may look all sweet and innocent, but this simple puzzle game hides a devious difficulty curve... you may want to take the dark circles around our protagonist's eyes as a warning, because he's clearly been up all night with this one. Using [WASD] or the [arrow] keys, push each crate into a square on the floor with an X in it to open the portal to the next level. That's all. Easy, right? But despite not tacking on a lot of bells and whistles, Sokoboom's tight level design will tie your brain in knots. The downside is that the undo button, which only undoes a single move, feels too restrictive to really be useful, since unless you're going slowly and methodically it's far too easy to accidentally push a single block a few steps too far and be forced to restart the entire stage... which, considering how tidy and intricate the levels become, can be very frustrating. But with a clean presentation, Sokoboom serves up the sort of well thought out puzzling that shows you don't need a lot to be challenging. Just your wits... and apparently to have your hair styled by Javier Bardeem in his No Country For Old Men phase.

Play Sokoboom

Biology was never my strong suit in school. All those mitochondria and phylums and mitosis... meh. Luckily, you don't have to know your genes from your jeans to make it through Life Sciences, a new room escape by Rose Key. The game takes place inside your standard, four-walled room decorated with the theme of — you guessed it — life sciences. Make your escape, or be forever trapped amongst pictures of parameciums and DNA!

It's a simple but charming affair, and no heavy science knowledge is required for success — most of the puzzles are color-based. While some clicking areas are mildly fiddly, a changing cursor alleviates most of the pixel-hunting woes. The puzzles are definitely on the easier side, but they still have a nice logical flow, making for the perfect little coffee break escaper. So grab your bunsen burners and your graduated cylinders and try to make your way out of the room of Life Sciences!

Play Life Sciences

We're back with more games! More specifically a free game, a game that's on sale with a price that happens to be free, and a game about punching fish that isn't free but is close to it!

Free game: Puzzle Retreat - Earlier this year, The Voxel Agents released Puzzle Retreat. The game proceeded to rule our mobile devices with an iron fist, attracting our attention more than any other game. And for good reason, too: it's one of the most polished and entertaining puzzle games out there! To celebrate its awesomeness, Puzzle Retreat is currently free for iOS devices. The sale could end at any moment now, though, so be quick!

Free game: Apple Bin - Sometimes you just wanna throw some apples around. Apple Bin from Ruxar is a physics puzzle game that gives you a cannon full of apples and challenges you to do all sorts of stuff with them. Well, mainly get them in the bin using as few shots as possible, but in order to reach the bin you've got to avoid dangerous things and move some junk out of the way. Like giant concrete boulders, wooden planks, sawblades, portals, crates, gravity inversions, etc. It's a simple idea with a great implementation, and it's completely free from in-app purchases and all that other rubbish many mobile games like to feature. Just plain old apple-based puzzle solving! (Android / Windows Phone)

Almost free: Fish Puncher - Guess what this game's about? The official description says it best: "In a near-future dystopia, psychotic demon fish have enslaved humanity (for some reason or another - Global warming, probably). It's up to you, the Fish Puncher, to liberate us all in a convenient, two-minute burst of frantic arcade-style action. Punch stuff, punch more stuff, get a high score, be a hero." (Android)

Crazy Machines Golden Gears is a new addition to the Crazy Machines series of physics building/puzzle games. The franchise has made the leap from downloadable desktop game to the mobile world, bringing with it all the challenge, creativity and, well, crazy machines you can imagine. If Rube Goldberg only knew the kind of legacy he would leave to the casual gaming world.

If you've played the other Crazy Machines games or the granddaddy of all contraption-building games The Incredible Machine, you'll know exactly where to begin. Each level has a simple goal to accomplish, things like popping a balloon, getting a toy truck to the exit, or guiding a fragile vase to a marked platform. You do this by arranging an inventory of over 75 different contraptions, each more unusual than the last. How about dropping a basketball on that wind-up mouse to hit a button to set off the laser that pops the balloon? Or wiring up a logic gate that powers a boiling kettle that will move a turbine that pulls a conveyor belt? Yeah, you can do that. And it's awesome.

As the name suggests, golden gears play a big part in the mobile release of Crazy Machines. You're rewarded heaps of them based on how efficiently you solved each level, and in order to unlock additional stages, you've got to spend gears like mad. Two simple in-app purchases can help you in that department, and along with them you can gain access to a level editor as well as user-made levels. There are hundreds of custom stages to play, so if the main game isn't enough, Crazy Machines can still deliver!

Crazy Machines Golden Gears has made an easy transition to the mobile realm. Touch screen controls are flawless and it couldn't be simpler to place, arrange or remove items from the inventory. Now all you have to do is figure out how to solve these intricate puzzles and you're good to go!

It's not easy being the modern equivalent of Robin Hood. All he had to contend with were a few half-competent sheriff's henchmen. These days an honest, hard-working thief can't catch a break, with everything from security cameras to laser beams plotting against him. Which is why Bob needs your help once more, in Bob the Robber 2, a great little stealth puzzle platformer by Flazm.

Creep around (rather loudly, for a thief) using the [arrow] or [WASD] keys; use the up [arrow] to interact with objects, and the [spacebar] to whack unsuspecting guards. You also have three upgrade slots, bound to [Z], [X] and [C]. Your task is to reach a certain goal (you can't miss it, it's surrounded by arrows), and then make your getaway. Keep away from any creatures/pieces of technology you see guarding the rooms, or you'll set off an alarm; if you set it off four times, you're busted, and then it's back to square one.

There are lots of improvements compared to the original game. For starters, there are ten levels instead of five, and there's a shop where you can buy upgrades. Every time you pick a lock or mess with the electrical box, you get a tiny mini-game, and don't they make everything better? When you knock someone out, you now have a timer so you know exactly when they'll wake up, which really comes in handy. The levels all fit into a single screen, the graphics are improved and the music is toned down a little. The difficulty curve is similar, meaning that it's well calibrated and strikes a nice balance between using your brain and your reflexes. Another fun feature is the fact that you can adapt the gameplay to your own temperament, and either rush through the levels or try to be patient and stealthy.

Now to end with a pun. Bob the Robber 2 is a steal at this price? No, it's a free game. It's criminally entertaining? Laaaame. It'll rob you of your free time? Yes, alright, let's go with that one.

Play Bob the Robber 2

It's not every day you reach for a book on the bookshelf and find the laser of a sniper's rifle peeking over your shoulder. And that's a good thing, because that would probably turn a lot of people off to literature. But in Chris Hecker's recently-opened beta of SpyParty, you've got to take that chance and enjoy that book, because at a party of suspicious characters, you've got to use stealth and observation to trick the other player and win. While one player tries to act like the computer players without getting caught, the other tries to pick them out, in a sort of inverted Turing test. Even though SpyParty is unfinished, there's still a ton of tension as you pick up a book... and sneak the microfilm from the inside cover.

In each round of SpyParty, one player takes the role of the spy, who has to accomplish a series of four tasks in order to win, while trying to look like one of the computer-controlled AI characters. The tasks are relatively simple and subtle actions like swapping a statue or planting a bug on the ambassador, but each of these actions has a small tell which might give the player away if they're not careful. You can move around using [WASD] or the [arrow] keys while moving the camera with the mouse, and performing your espionage actions with a right-click. Advanced players can try their hand at triggering the animation in an action meter that could give them a more subtle tell if successful, or a more obvious one if not. The spy can do regular actions with a left-click (similar to the ones the AI do) to try to fool the sniper, but they still need to complete all of the required actions in order to win.

The other player is the sniper, whose goal is to observe the crowd of partygoers from the outside, identify the spy, and take them out with a single bullet. As the sniper, you know that the spy is the only character who will perform the tells associated with the tasks, but spotting who's doing them in a crowded room can be tough. The sniper can move around on a limited track with [A] and [D], but can also zoom in and out on the room with [A] and [S] or the scroll wheel, and highlight suspicious characters with a left-click (or lowlight them with right-click). Holding down [Shift] initiates the sniper's crosshairs, and a click pulls the trigger on (hopefully) the secret agent.

The spy wins if they can complete all of their tasks undetected, or if the sniper fires at the wrong person. The sniper wins by picking off the right partygoer, or if the spy runs out of time before completing their tasks. While the premise is simple, the result is an incredibly nerve-wracking atmosphere for both players, where you never know if you're making the right moves or not until the pull of the trigger.

Analysis: Did you remember to read the instruction manual and readme file before playing? The developer recommends you spend some time with the literature before you begin in order to understand some of the subtle nuances that can make or break a game. It might be a strange barrier for entry for new players, but having the extra knowledge and playing a couple of single-player practice rounds can make a huge difference. (After all, you wouldn't hire an untrained spy or sniper to do your bidding for you in real life... Not that you hire spies and snipers, right? ...Right?)

That said, when you start playing SpyParty, you're immediately immersed in an incredibly tense game of cat and mouse. As a spy, you might panic when the sniper's laser sight focuses on you right as you pick the book off a bookshelf. As a sniper, you might doubt your "sure thing" when you see them pick up a statue, but hear someone else mention "banana bread" across the room. Because there's so much going on in the room at any given time, both players are kept on edge as they don't know what the other knows.

Even among such a tense atmosphere, there's still a friendly community surrounding the game. Players are encouraged to discuss the events of the game to help one another out. It also helps to switch up roles often, as what you learn playing spy can help you as a sniper, and vise versa. Though you may be tempted to glean wisdom from higher-level players (note the number of wins each player has in the lobby), you can get just as many (if not more) tips from a player of equal skill level.

As the game is still an open beta, the graphics are still minimalist and clunky, but you quickly forget about that when you're trying to scan the room for details that you can use to your advantage. Some of the levels and missions are still regarded as "experimental" and aren't necessarily balanced for fair play just yet, but they make for interesting grounds for seeing the expansive potential of the game. If you're looking for a competitive and thrilling challenge, grab a cocktail glass and join the party.

Note: As this is game is still in beta, it may be buggy and not function properly on some computers; play at your own risk. As of the time of publication of this review, PayPal is the only method of purchase accepted, though the developer plans to include more means in the future.

Windows:
Get the beta version

Mac OS X:
Not available.
Try Boot Camp or Parallels or CrossOver Games.

In a situation that hits a little too close to home for some of us, Coolson's Artisanal Chocolate Alphabet from Things Made Out Of Other Things is a word game based in a chocolate factory starring an out of work English major desperate for a job. You manage to get a position at Coolson's factory packing boxes with letter-embossed chocolates. But since dropping squares into slots isn't all that exciting (and since you want to put that fancy degree to use), you decide to make things more difficult/entertaining for yourself. Instead of filling boxes, now you're writing words!

A conveyor belt at the top of the screen slowly moves pieces of chocolate from left to right. In the center is a small grid. Tap and drag letters from the belt to the box, arranging them so they intersect and spell short words, just like in a crossword puzzle. You have to work very quickly, though, as letters drop off the assembly line in a matter of seconds. You'd better have a good vocabulary and are comfortable working with awkward letters if you want to stay in the game. In fact, you might just need to be an English major!

Coolson's Artisanal Chocolate Alphabet can be an extremely challenging game, but not unfairly so. You can restart levels whenever you like with no penalty. It's easy to lose ranking stars by dropping too many letters in a stage, so be prepared to repeat workdays if you want a decent score. Best of all, both online and local multiplayer modes let you word/chocolate battle friends! Oh, and we can't talk about the game without mentioning the artwork. One glance and you'll fall in love!

Say you're a little boy (but really you're a dinosaur) and in your roaring rampage of dinosaur-ness, you've stomped all the plants you can. Well, the king of the forest would like a word with you, and he wants you to replant everything you've crushed. Such is the premise of Seeds, an adorable new launch game by funstorm. You blow the seed as far as you can by dragging the mouse left and then right. Click while the seed is in the air to drop more seeds and plant flowers. There are sweet spots that give you extra points or other bonuses, so your goal is to aim for them while avoiding trouble spots such as rocks, ponds, and crows. Use the points you earn to buy upgrades that help you make the most out of each launch. There's no distance goal: your distance and score accumulate on each launch to eventually bring you to the next zone.

Seeds is a lovely game, but it isn't without its flaws: the handling could definitely be improved, for example, and it gets very hard to aim your drops accurately as your launch speed increases. But between the vibrantly colored, ridiculously adorable graphics and the way it tweaks the genre just enough to stand out from the rest of the crowd, it's absolutely worth playing.

Play Seeds

It's tough to be a little element. You're at the mercy of every current of wind and lava flow on the block. Fortunately for the four elements in Element4l, they're bound together as a single entity and can switch as easily as you or I eat a whole bar of chocolate (i.e. instantly). This soothing but challenging arcade game from I-Illusions puts you in charge of those transformations, utilizing them as efficiently as you can in order to move through each stage safely.

Press the [left] arrow key to turn into a block of ice, [right] to switch to fire, [down] to turn into a stone, and [up] to become a floaty bit of air. Each of these states can be toggled as easily as you press the keys, and the physics associated with them will immediately take hold. Ice slides on smooth slopes and is great for building up speed. Earth is heavy and practically invincible. Fire lets you dash forward and bounce off of certain surfaces. As air you can tap [up] to float higher, letting the wind currents carry you where they may. You have an energy meter that prevents you from spamming the keys, so timing is everything.

Element4l starts as a little bit of a puzzle game that slowly morphs into an experiment in momentum. Because you don't have direct control over where you move, you have to take advantage of every environmental feature to ensure you stay on the move. One mistake and you'll likely have to restart from the last checkpoint. It's a bit frustrating at first, especially when you lose your speed and sit there like a grumpy little lump. Once you get the hang of it, though, it's an extremely satisfying experience. Accompanied by a beautiful soundtrack and lovely visuals, Element4l is a slice of beauty wrapped around a smoothly-flowing arcade game.

Windows:
Get the full version (requires Steam)
Get the full version (via Steam)

Mac OS X:
Get the full version (requires Steam)
Get the full version (via Steam)