Gorogoa Sets The New Standard For iOS Puzzle Games

The main distinguisher of Gorogoa is that there are so many layers to unfold. The game presents at most four panels on screen at once, but each one isn’t set in stone. You can rearrange the panels, but more importantly you can zoom in, zoom out, and pan around each individual panel to find a new scene. The scenes can connect horizontally or vertically, or have silhouettes to overlay other panels. It’s all about finding the connection between panels in any form that it is presented to piece it all together. The major emphasis of the game is pure exploration to find out every element that each panel holds. Not only that, but you also get to witness the ornate artwork.

The puzzle mechanics are outstanding, but it’s the story that truly makes Gorogoa memorable. The game doesn’t need any dialogue to depict an odd occurrence scene by a little boy that then impacts his entire life. There’s an entire adventure to unfold just by moving panels around, and tapping on those panels. It’s amazing to see the wide ranging impact throughout the boy’s life by the one fateful glimpse on the one fateful day. You get to guide the boy across panels with shifting sizes like Alice In Wonderland. There are versions of the boy’s future self that can connect with each other. The best part is the kaleidoscope style fractals that let you zoom into an eye, and all the way through to reach a snowy mountain top or barren dessert. There are varying landscapes and points of time to travel to without ever leaving the confines of the four panel set up.

Though there are so many complexities in the puzzle mechanics and storyline, the game is still as accessible as possible. All you have to do is tap, hold, and drag the panels, or tap on specific elements within panels to move around. So much occurs in the game without ever distracting you with menus, levels, breaks, scores, timers, or transitions. Every interaction has been thought out very well to create an all encompassing experience. You know it’s an amazing game is when one of the main drawbacks is that the game comes to an end far too quickly. It’s easy to lose track of time, as you’re constantly motivated to keep moving forward, and uncovering the next connected clue within the panels. The game could also use a hint system at times, though this is the type of game that you can step away from, ruminate on, and come up with a solution.

Gorogoa is a virtually flawless iOS experience that sets the new standard for iOS puzzle games.