Puzzle (1234 programs)

Pros: Simple controls and interface. Challenging and compelling central mechanic. Extensive replay value. Develops math skills.

Cons: Frustrating difficulty level. Bare-bones visual presentation. Engrossing gameplay can consume hours. No strategy guide or hints.

Pros: Plenty of puzzles and hidden object scenes. Darker setting than most Artifex Mundi games. Includes 'Regular' and 'Expert' difficulties. Effective use of voice acting and audio.

Cons: Overall presentation feels a bit dated. A few too many back-tracking sections. No real incentive to play multiple times. Picture has been stretched for widescreen.

Pros: Innovative take on the match-3 concept. Excellent artwork and user interface. Includes timed and untimed game modes. Core gameplay is fun and addictive.

Cons: Story elements add little to the game. May be too complicated for casual players. Pacing of the garden mini-game is strange. Occasional issues when selecting tiles.

Pros: A perfect game for all ages and skill levels. Excellent to enhance pattern recognition. Very little memory is required. Simple to learn and highly addictive.

Cons: Pieces might not realign if the window is minimized. Could be slightly repetitive over time. Some older systems could encounter playback issues. There is no multiplayer option to select.

Pros: Classic gameplay, combining strategy and fun. Includes three different difficulty levels. New visuals and themes for an updated appearance. Keeps track of a variety of player statistics.

Cons: No major innovations or additions to gameplay. Occasional issues with the placement of flags. Frequent feedback requests interrupt flow. Score system makes it difficult to track progress.

Pros: Addictive and challenging gameplay. Combines nonogram puzzles with HOG scenes. Includes achievements and collectibles. Power-ups and clues are well-balanced.

Cons: Some puzzles lack clear explanations. Story adds little to the experience. Shorter than other similar games. Pop-up review requests become annoying.

Pros: Simple controls make it easy to get started. Offers players a new puzzle every day. Users' own images can be converted into puzzles. Support for six through to 1,000-piece jigsaws.

Cons: Pieces can become hidden behind each other. Large puzzles take a while to scramble. Additional puzzles require in-app purchases. Interface occasionally interferes with puzzles.

Pros: Engaging story, with a solid cast of characters. Includes hidden object, puzzle and mini-game elements. Graphics and artwork style are impressive. Excellent background music and voice acting.

Cons: Back-tracking sections can become frustrating. Puzzles may be too easy for experienced HOG players. Occasional issues with some speech animations. A few scenes have not been optimized for HD display.

Pros: A simple and clean interface. An unlimited number of puzzles. Printing options are available. Puzzles can be uploaded from other sources.

Cons: No developer support is present. Few customization options. No support for 32.bit processors. Older operating systems may encounter problems.

Pros: Beautifully drawn background visuals. 48 exotic locations to visit & explore, from Paris to Crete. Over 30 additional minigames to play around with. Fans of Greek mythology will love its theme and richness.

Cons: Story is very basic; not much depth to it. Puzzles can take some time to get through. Large download size for a game with such basic visuals and gameplay. Lacks originality, as Greek mythology is such a common and popular theme in gaming.

Pros: Regular updates introduce new elements. Can be played entirely for free with patience. Can connect with Facebook friends for bonuses. Daily events encourage replaying.

Cons: Enforced competition entry during events. Gameplay feels elongated to encourage microtransactions. Some levels seem designed to fail without microtransactions. Unable to pause timed levels.

Pros: Detailed, atmospheric visuals capture the essence of fictional Bitterford. This edition has features that offer further insight into the game. Many hidden object scenes, puzzles and collectables to enjoy. The psychic character Cassandra Williams is played by actress Lea Thompson.

Cons: Large download size for a free game. Quite difficult if you're not using the walkthrough. Only compatible with the best mobile devices. Forgettable in comparison with better titles in the genre.

Pros: Vibrant graphics capture the atmosphere of 1950s New York. More than 50 unique locations in which to find clues and explore. Over 40 different mini-games also available to play. Optimised for all modern mobile devices.

Cons: Those familiar with series may find a lack of originality/improvement here. Experienced hidden object game players may find it too easy. Story struggles to remain interesting throughout. Main game can be completed quickly; collector's edition required to access more content.

Pros: Unusual premise.. Attractive visual style.. Puzzles have plenty of variety.. Suitable for all ages..

Cons: Mechanics can become annoyingly clunky.. Some level goals are unnecessarily hard to figure out.. Has a steep learning curve.. Tasks needed to unlock new worlds can be hard..

Pros: Atmospheric storyline.. Polished graphics.. Unlockable achievements add challenge.. Variety of locations to explore..

Cons: May be too creepy for younger kids.. Puzzles lack variety.. Very similar to other hidden object titles.. Lacks replay value..

Pros: Different levels. Regular updates. Uses minimal resources. Keeps you mentally fit.

Cons: Controls are not very sharp. Instructions are not clear. Learning how to move around can take time. W, A, S, D controls can be confusing.

Pros: Can be played by the visually impaired. Variety of different game modes. Provides a genuine challenge. Audio hints help out new players.

Cons: Rules are quite complicated. Occasional sound localization issues. Quite difficult, even on easier settings. Background music is distracting.

Pros: Visuals are atmospheric and brilliantly capture the essence of the Orient. Refreshing change of pace from other major titles. More than 50 locations to visit. Extra hidden content to be found by eagle-eyed players.

Cons: Large download size for a game that's not visually intensive. Some unfortunate plot holes, coupled with an inconclusive end to the story. Total amount of puzzles and side quests are slightly lacking. Gameplay limitations won't satisfy those familiar with superior games in the genre.

Pros: Interesting spell power-ups. Entertaining bonus games. 100 levels to try. Satisfyingly challenging puzzles.

Cons: Unclear instructions. Dated graphics. Intrusive, repetitive soundtrack. Extra game modes add little.