It has been a habit of Epic Games Store to give away an interesting and new title every so often. This time they are giving away a unique 3D tactile puzzle game called GNOG. Every puzzle is a robot monster face and rather than being simply challenging, they almost challenge the imagination to see more than simply something to solve.
The game is going to be free on the Epic Games Store until August 15 so pick it up while you still can. There is a level of entertainment in simply observing the faces but solving the puzzles themselves make it an even more interesting game.
There is much more to the GNOG puzzles then meets the eye as the entire experience is more about the visuals of the game rather than simply finding a puzzle solution. There is a lot of experimentation that happens as you poke and prod the monster faces and try to find out the solution, if you can call it that, to the monster face.
Double Fine did explain that the inspiration for the game did come from Rubik’s Cubes. The practice of feeling yourself through a puzzle gives an odd feeling to the entire game. The entry in the game’s store says that you must “point, click, grab, poke, spin, pull, and play with uniquely charming monster heads as you explore the hidden worlds inside them.”
The entire game is about learning what works through trial and error rather than memorizing a set of rules that the game provides. It is similar to trying to put together a puzzle upside down using only the shapes as guides.
This game does run with a VR mode as an option which can give you a closer and more adaptable look at the puzzle itself. Each stage is intricately designed, and every detail worked out carefully.
Be careful though, as the game does include some red herrings with buttons and toggles that do absolutely nothing or something completely unexpected. There is a lot to learn from games like this, and an interesting level of learning as the only way to play it right is your way.
The game will be free until August 15, and once it is gone from the freebie slot, two games will take its place. Players will have the opportunity to download and experience both Hyper Light Drifter and Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden.
