It's funny how when you are absolutely sick of the cold even a chore that's done in the sun can sound appealing. Mark Diehr gets you thinking about grass and how to cut it in his puzzle game Mow Problems. And since we've already determined that mowing can be fun, let's get down to how to play. Use the [arrow] keys to move, and take note that you can't move backwards. The object of the game is to mow the lawn without getting any clippings in the pools. Whenever the mower moves over a spot, cut grass (indicated by the number of light green lines on a square) will always fly out to the right of the mower. If you pile up three lines of clippings, it's too much for your mower to handle and that square will be blocked. Sometimes there's a way around the mound, but if there's too many clippings on top of a square of grass, you won't be able to push your mower over it. Thankfully you can hit [U] or [Z] to undo as many moves as you want, or [R] to reset the level. In later levels there are goats hungry for grass who enjoy helping you out, though you do have to nudge them in the right direction.

There's no limit on the number of moves you can make, which is good considering I'm pretty sure I single-handedly caused global warming pushing that lawn mower around. New gameplay elements are added at a good pace to keep things interesting. The levels vary in difficulty, with some requiring a lot more thought than others, but overall it presents a challenge without becoming overwhelming. Mow Problems is a great little puzzle game with which to whittle away some time while exercising your brain. Oh, and pssst... Here's a little advice for next time you're trying to avoid getting grass in your pool. Bag it.

Play Mow Problems