Looking for novel retro puzzle game recommendations
I'm attempting to change my phone habits and swap out some unhealthy ones (doomscrolling the news) with healthy ones (solving puzzles instead!).
I just set up the incredible RetroArch on my phone now that you can do that on iOS, and I even got a little controller for games that need it (I tried playing Tetris with touch controls, and it was like, 95% good, but missing a spin or move when things were getting tense was frustrating and took me out of it).
What I'm looking for are puzzle game recommendations up through the PlayStation/N64 era (including handhelds) that can run on my phone.
In particular I want to explore more "novel" puzzle game ideas -- ones that kind of take their own swing at things. For example, Intelligent Qube on the PlayStation is one of my favorite games of all time, in part because I've never played anything like it in the nearly 30 years since its release.
That said, I'm also open to just regular old "pure" puzzler games. The first game I set up (and have been thoroughly enjoying) on RetroArch is Picross 3D on the DS. I love games like this that are just lists of puzzles and I can play one or two of them rather than, you know, doomscrolling.
Any recommendations you can give are appreciated!
I just want to add Simon Tatham's portable puzzle collection and I even looked up the iOS port for you.
Not sure if this is something you'd be into, but as soon as someone is looking for anything puzzle related this "needs" to be mentioned ;)
My phone usage in order:
I don't play any other phone games anymore.
Be warned, it's surprisingly addictive once you find a puzzle that clicks. I tend to enter a zen state that lets my mind wander, which can keep me occupied for hours. Last year I spent a majority of an 8-hour flight playing it. Afterwards I spent the next month or so playing it pretty much any time I used my phone, only stopping because I got paranoid the bottom bar was starting to burn into my screen.
In other words, it's a 10/10 puzzle game and I heartily endorse it.
One early afternoon I was lying on the couch trying to recover from the brink of burnout by taking a nap. As I descended my layers of consciousness into what I hoped to be a couple minutes of REM.. a single word popped into my brain: Zoop
It was something I haven't thought about for more than two decades. It wasn't even something that was consequential in my life or even nostalgic. As with everyone else during the time it was released.. it was just kinda meh given all the hype and marketing. They wanted it to be the next Tetris so bad, they thought marketing and advertising would be what would get them embedded in the collective consciousness and join the immortal ranks that Tetris held. It appears they got part of the way there. Instead of the compulsive hum of the theme song when I'm organizing the back of a moving truck or cluttered drawer, they got a dusty corner of my mind as a tripping hazard for my servant of Somnus'
Reminds me a bit of Gunpey and Libble Rabble
Not sure if you're open to 3DS games, but I think the Pushmo series are unique puzzle games. The levels are bite sized and don't overstay their welcome. Here's a review for the first game which explains what the series is all about. The sequels add more mechanics to really stretch your spatial thinking.
Pure puzzle
More movement in these puzzle
C.R.U.S.H. and Lumines for the PlayStation Portable might be up your alley.
Novel I don't know because all my gaming has been on PC for decades. That said, how do you like the old puzzle platformers such as Lode Runner or Solomon's Key? Or even Jetpack if that's playable. Boulder Dash also comes to mind.
Another retro puzzle game I've always had a soft spot for is Chip's Challenge (not a platformer in this case).
I still play Snood on my Gameboy Advance, don’t know if it ever got ported to any other device.
I used to play it on the computer too, worked on Windows XP
Meteos, perhaps? Directed by Masahiro Sakurai. I've not gotten around to playing it but it seems good.
I heard that Every Extend Extra and Lumines were both good. Also, there's no alternative for a good Super Puzzle Fighter session.
I enjoy alpine alpaca on the pico-8. Combo pool is neat too although not strictly a puzzle in the same way that pool isn’t strictly a puzzle. Maybe that’s not what you’re looking for though.