Ask HN: Well-designed, simple-but-complex games like Letterpress?

Posted by achompas on Monday May 13, 2013 @12:05AM
from the ask-hn dept.

I've gotten hooked on Letterpress again this weekend, and wanted to ask if anyone could point out any game that works like it.

Specifically, I'm really interested in its:

>> minimal graphic design with excellent interactive flourishes (popping sounds and shaking letters adorning flat & matte color scheme)

>> simple-to-learn gameplay (this is obviously DECEPTIVELY hard to design, but I'd love to see other examples)

>> and ultra-competitive gameplay at the high end (I guess this is the difficulty curve?)

I guess one could summarize points #2 and #3 as "easy to learn, difficult to master?" Not sure, but I'd love to find other games like this (any platform) as inspiration for personal projects.

Would also appreciate references on game design if anyone has them--I've got "Art of Game Design" by Jesse Schell, for starters.

( 13 comments | 13 points | on HN )

Re:Ask HN: Well-designed, simple-but-complex games like Lett... by po on Monday May 13, 2013 @12:51AM (#5697249)

Eliss was the first game for iPhone that I played that really took multitouch to a new level. It's been around for a while now but it is still good. The music is fantastic. The creator's (steph thirion) next game Faraway is supposed to be really interesting but it is still under heavy development.

http://www.toucheliss.com/

http://www.playfaraway.com/

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Well-designed, simple-but-complex games like Lett... by captn3m0 on Monday May 13, 2013 @03:27AM (#5697577)

Try out Super Hexagon. Very easy to grasp the controls. Ridiculously hard to actually play. See the trailer to check whether you like it or not. Available for all platforms.

[1]: http://superhexagon.com

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Well-designed, simple-but-complex games like Lett... by keywonc on Monday May 13, 2013 @04:57AM (#5697773)

Not exactly a graphical iPhone game, but I am a designer and this is the first game I'm enjoying in a long time.

http://candies.aniwey.net

- Minimal visuals: Check

- Simple to learn: Check, more enjoyable with a mentor/more experienced person I can reach.

- Not sure how competitive it gets at the high end.

I'm surprised I am enjoying this, since I was never a RPG person. I am a casual-at-best gamer who finds Clash of the Clans boring after 5 mins and Letterpress gameplay too implicit(?).

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Well-designed, simple-but-complex games like Lett... by swanson on Monday May 13, 2013 @12:36AM (#5697203)

I like 7x7 (Android only I think?): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=me.kiip.skeemo...

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Well-designed, simple-but-complex games like Lett... by 19_ploT on Monday May 13, 2013 @12:43AM (#5697228)

Dots: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dots-a-game-about-connecting...

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Well-designed, simple-but-complex games like Lett... by achompas on Monday May 13, 2013 @02:04AM (#5697402)

I'm not fan of Dots, actually. While Eliss and Letterpress have their own rules and strategies (similar to Braid, for example), Dots feels too much like a Bejeweled clone to me.

Maybe I didn't give it a fair shot? What do you think?

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Well-designed, simple-but-complex games like Lett... by asselinpaul on Monday May 13, 2013 @04:23AM (#5697687)

it gets quite addictive when you want to get a good score. A small tip, make squares (2x2), this will clear the colour from the board.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Well-designed, simple-but-complex games like Lett... by IsaacL on Monday May 13, 2013 @03:29AM (#5697581)

I've been addicted to Dice Wars www.gamedesign.jp/flash/dice/dice.html for a while now. Solarmax is cool too http://armorgames.com/play/11965/solarmax. I love these types of games - don't know what you'd call them, but they simplify the concept of a strategy game to map + units + bases. Dice Wars and Solarmax are two of the best, they're surprisingly deep.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Well-designed, simple-but-complex games like Lett... by tuananh on Monday May 13, 2013 @02:37AM (#5697474)

Not every well polished but i like Drop 7(https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.areacode.d...)

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Well-designed, simple-but-complex games like Lett... by anonymoushn on Monday May 13, 2013 @01:30AM (#5697337)

Tetris Attack can deliver #2+#3, but will fail at #1 in every iteration other than Planet Puzzle League for DS.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Well-designed, simple-but-complex games like Lett... by pubby on Monday May 13, 2013 @12:55AM (#5697253)

> minimal graphic design with excellent interactive flourishes

Why is this relevant?

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Well-designed, simple-but-complex games like Lett... by achompas on Monday May 13, 2013 @01:58AM (#5697389)

Because I think this type of design invites the player, instead of frightening or intimidating them. Visual clutter can discourage potential gamers (especially the casual audience I have in mind).

The lack of clutter (along with a well-designed game) also suggests the designer thought deeply about the necessary components.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Well-designed, simple-but-complex games like Lett... by fiatmoney on Monday May 13, 2013 @01:13AM (#5697292)

Circadia on the iPhone.

[ Parent | on HN ]