HexTrains Demo

Keeping your brain in top form is just as important as keeping your physique in shape, otherwise you might not be able to deal with your everyday problems if your mind is not trained to tackle what life throws at it. One fun way to do that is by playing logic and puzzle games, because it’s certainly a more engaging activity than solving differential equations or reading philosophical essays.

HexTrains is a very simple puzzle game with tower defense elements, in which your goal is to stop a convoy of trains from making it to their destination. In order to do that, you have to build various turrets near the railway, as well as place them as efficiently as possible to deal the maximum amount of damage. The game comes with a plethora of levels to work your way through, each one of which also features multiple difficulty settings.

As the name implies, the maps are hex-based, which means that you deal with a grid and a limited number of options at your disposal. The turrets cost money to build, but the way you position them is far more important than how many you have. Hence, the trains move slower in corners, so it’s recommended to make full use of the hexes around the said corners by placing as many turrets as possible around them.

After the introductory level, more types of turrets become available in order to deal with the different kinds of cargo transported by the trains. It’s not a good idea to fill the map with blue turrets if you also have to destroy yellow containers, since they won’t do any damage to them.

Aside from this, each stage also features three different variations, providing you with a new challenge on the same layout. On top of that, there are four difficulty levels to choose from, and these control the speed of the trains as they navigate the maze. The higher the difficulty level, the faster the trains move, giving you less and less time to place turrets and forcing you to think quickly.

Your efforts are not in vain, however, because the game rewards you for completing each stage by unlocking the next level. Your score is also displayed on a public leaderboard, thus allowing you to compare your times with other people and see how you rank. Naturally, this is a great way to encourage competition.

As simple as HexTrains might look at first, the game has the power to keep you glued to the screen for a long time, especially if you are the competitive type. There are more than enough levels and variations, not to mention the fact that you can always go back and try for a place on the leaderboard. Hence, puzzle enthusiasts should have a blast with the game, and the gameplay mechanics are simple enough for complete beginners as well.