Patterna Demo

Complexity is not always a required component in difficult video games, because even the simplest mechanics can be used to provide the players with tough challenges. As an example, Minesweeper is regarded by many people as one of the most basic video games out there, yet very few are able to actually complete it on the highest difficulty level, or even on the lowest.

Patterna is a puzzle game inspired by Minesweeper and HexCells, in which your goal is to find the solution to a variety of patterns by correctly reproducing the pattern hiding underneath each network node. It sounds more difficult than it actually is, on the other hand, at least when it comes to the mechanics that govern the gameplay, since everything can be accomplished with a handful of mouse clicks.

In short, each level features a network of nodes, and each node can be in one of two possible states. Naturally, you have to find the right pattern and respect all the rules, which is tougher than it sounds, because the number of rules and conditions is quite high. Thus, whether a node is part of the pattern or not depends on a variety of factors, including positioning and proximity to other important nodes.

The fun part about Patterna is that you really have to think about the answers throughout every level, since there’s no guessing and no trial & error involved in the process. Each stage has a unique solution, and there are plenty of levels to go through. On top of that, the level generator allows you to extend the fun for as much as you want, as long as you don’t mind the procedurally-generated puzzles.

To make things even better, the game is designed to run on even the most basic computers, so it shouldn’t be a problem if your PC is not state-of-the-art. Granted, this means that you shouldn’t expect an awful lot in regards to graphics either, but then again that’s not the purpose of a puzzle game anyway. On the other hand, there’s a very engaging and relaxing soundtrack playing in the background, which is always a plus.

All things considered, Patterna can easily keep you busy for a few days, depending on how keen you are to tackle punishing puzzles. Hence, it’s the perfect mix of simple gameplay mechanics and daunting difficulty level, so it should find a decent player base for itself.