RPS Feature Mind Bending
The world’s most accurate ranking of the 25 best puzzle games ever to reach a computer. Plucking the peak of PC puzzling, we break down what makes them so special, and put them in the correct order. Read on for more time travel, rearranged tiles, hidden objects and hexed cells than you could ever want.
Hoshi Saga has been my constant companion throughout the years of RPS. Collections of micro-puzzles from developer Yoshio Ishii, they appear without warning, with gaps of a couple of years, then two in six months, then vanish again for a bit. In wanting to recommend the series as a Have You Played, I’ve checked back, and noticed I’ve missed everything since 2011. HOW? There are four more Hoshi Saga games waiting for me! What a silly happy thing.
It’s on days like today, when there is NO PC NEWS AT ALL, that I remember to return to Neko Games. The creator of the wonderful Hoshi Saga series has always created a new gem since my last visit, and it’s just as true today. Today there’s Ouka. It’s similar to the star-hunting antics of Hoshi Saga, in that you’re aiming to complete lots of very short Flash-based puzzles, but this time it’s all about clicking on the flower. How you can go about doing that is the unique puzzle for each level, with that unique Neko Games logic. And then, wait, oh my goodness, is that a new Hoshi Saga too?
Gosh, can it really be over a year since I posted a Nekogames Hoshi Saga game? I do not understand the passing of time. Fortunately I do understand how to find stars in 25 simple but lovely microgames. I mean, I should, I’d already completed 125 of them. Bringing it up to 150 is Hoshi Saga Ringeon, and it’s as worth playing as all previously. Still too simple for the most part, but always engaging and satisfying to hear that ‘pling!’ as each is solved. You really ought to bloody well listen to me and go play them. I won’t stop posting about them until you do.
Crikey, a new one already! I do so love the Hoshi Saga series from Nekogames, as I was saying but only the other day. Part five is available now, and it’s fantastic. Once more there’s twenty-five micro-challenges asking you to find a star within an inventive, cute way. And unlike part four, this time there’s toughies amongst the delightfully simple.
Oh my goodness, there’s a new Hoshi Saga game. And it’s in colour. But let me explain. If you’ve been following carefully you’ll have noticed that every now and then I remember to check the site of Yoshio Ishii, NekoGames, to see if anything new has appeared. Because when something has, it’s always worth a look. And this time: a fourth Hoshi Saga, the blissfully beautiful micro-game collections that ask you to find a star.
While it appeared a couple of weeks ago, I’ve only just noticed the latest Hoshi Saga game has been released. Yoshio Ishii is a wonderfully inventive man, his tiny, simple Flash games stacked with gorgeous ideas. And the Hoshi Saga are best of all, each comprising of 30 minuscule gaming morsels where you must aim to find a star. You can find part one here, and part two here.
Don’t thank me, thank friend-of-RPS Sam C, for today’s wonderful puzzle game. And you will thank her, because this is joyful.
Hoshi Saga is by Japanese developers Nekogames, it’s a series of completely charming puzzles based around finding the star. Little more needs to be said – just go play. And then come back here to thank Sam, and then yell at her because you’re stuck and really frustrated.
