Roundabyte's iOS exclusive Dwelp is exactly the sort of simple yet oh so sweet puzzle game that makes my heart go pitty-pat and my free time fly out the window. Conceptually, it's a straightforward mechanic, where the goal is to link up all matching coloured dots in a limited number of moves. Drag and drop to place one dot near one of the same colour (don't worry, they have colour-blind mode!), and they'll link up, but other matching dots will become faded, and from them on only linked dots can be moved. As a result, you need to figure out how to move your linked dots around the field to collect all the others, which gets harder when you consider your linked shape has to fit within the grid of the field, without overlapping any dots either. I've probably made that sound more complicated than it actually is, which is probably the least helpful superpower anyone has ever conceived of, but despite changing up the rules a little in later levels by giving certain dots special rules, Dwelp really is a breeze to pick up and play. Put down? Not so much.
Let's get this out of the way... if you like your puzzle games deceptively simple, smart, and with a side of elegant minimalism, Dwelp is the game for you. Everything about its design is sleek and user-friendly, down to the unrestrictive undo function, and the ability to skip a level and come back to it whenever you like from the level menu. Throw in a bunch of unlockable special levels, with more included free in a recent update, no ads or in-app purchases whatsoever, and you have a gem of a game that feels like the perfect package. While some players may prefer more bells and whistles, Dwelp's zen-like atmosphere and mellow soundtrack make for exactly the sort of relaxing yet mentally engaging gameplay puzzle games should have more often, with levels that range from satisfying "ah-ha!" style problems to more fiendish stages for those looking for a challenge. It knows how to keep you thinking throughout, and has mastered the art of making small, contained levels far more difficult than they seem at first glance. It's candy for your eyes and for your brain, making it the perfect choice to take with you wherever you go.
Dwelp (iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch)
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