Last Train to Timbuktu
Last Train to Timbuktu is a puzzle game by Green Eyed Games that plays like a sliding block puzzle fused with a Rubik's cube. A grid of tiles sits before you, each decorated with some grass, maybe a bit of water or some bushes, and a section of track. Simply shift the grid around so the track pieces line up, allowing the train to get from Point A to Point B unimpeded!
Click and drag any space on the grid to shift that column or row wherever you like. Track pieces can't cross water, but otherwise you aren't limited in what moves you make. Depending on which mode you play, you might have a car to race against, a move limit, or a ticking timer in the corner of the screen. There's also the stress-free practice mode when you just want to move some tiles around without any pressure.
Last Train to Timbuktu packs five levels of difficulty, allowing you to increase or decrease board size and jumbledness depending on how much of a challenge you're in the mood for. The base rules are always the same, it's just a matter of scale, no weird power-ups or crazy mini-games dropping in unannounced. While that may not be the norm for a modern game, Last Train to Timbuktu is of the old school variety, providing a distilled experience with lots of challenge and plenty of replayability. No gimmicks necessary!
Windows:
Download the demo
Get the full version
Mac OS X:
Download the demo
Get the full version
To solve the puzzle in the screenshot:
Shift the top row to the left.
Shift the rightmost column up.
Shift the top row to the right.
Shift the rightmost column down.
Done!
I'm puzzled by this game review's "free" tag. The linked page offers it for $3.
[The game is not free, the tag was added by mistake after the review was published, then removed again. We apologize for any confusion. -Jay]
Update