Threes!

Reviewing Threes! has been one of the few games, admittedly, I’ve been addicted to. Its simple pick to play, and a lifetime to master mechanic coupled with a charming presentation makes Threes! a class of its own. If you enjoy puzzle games or just games in general, you owe it to yourself to pick this gem up.

You’ll be hard pressed to let that bother you too much, though, as at the end of the day Threes! is pick up and play perfection. It may not shatter your perceptions of what a puzzle game is, but it will remind you just how great they can be.

Some may find that the music becomes annoying after a while, and that may be a valid complaint, but if that is the worst thing that can be said about Threes! I am sure anyone will live with that.The game does cost $1.99, but the forced lack of ads is actually very refreshing and Threes! definitely takes the crown as my new favorite game. Its personality, addictive gameplay, and dead-on touch controls make this one of the best games of the year.

The simple mechanics, deep strategy, and stacks of charm are balanced so perfectly together that it’s impossible to imagine a single change that could really improve upon what Sirvo has created. It is, as Karate Kid-inspired ThreeJay would say, “the best around.”

Threes is a brilliant puzzle game that can pass spare minutes, hours, or pretty much however long you’ve got. Its simple matching mechanics take only moments to learn, but training yourself to see several moves ahead while anticipating the possible variables is a challenge that’s gripped the puzzle center of my brain as tightly as classics like Tetris ever did. An unexpected element of outstanding music and personality makes every game a pleasure, even if my scores can’t top the leaderboard.

All of this means that Threes! is a terrific iOS puzzler. It's compelling and compulsive, with a central mechanic that's effortless to pick up. The game contains sufficient hidden depth, though, to keep you opening it up again and again (just like I did while writing this review) to try and eke out a slightly higher score.

Man mutiert fast zum Zahlenmystiker und Pythagorasjünger, während man Wege zum höchsten Vielfachen freischiebt. Threes! ist dabei lange nicht so verkopft wie Sudoku, sondern so leichtfüßig wie ein Tetris und so charmant wie ein viel zu schnell vergangener Sommertag.

Threes n'est pas le jeu fédérateur qu'il prétend être. Difficile et frustrant lors des premières parties, le titre ne dévoile son vrai potentiel qu'à ceux qui prendront la peine d'insister et de creuser un peu la chose. Inutile d'être matheux pour réussir, juste persévérant. Et quand on parvient enfin à atteindre quelques sommets, on se sent réellement fier, comme après avoir surmonté un énorme défi.