Demino from Purple Wax Games is a study in simplicity. With a single screen, no menu of any kind, and pick-up-and-play ease, Demino manages to create one of the most addictive iPhone games I’ve ever played.
Anyone who’s ever played a game of dominos already knows exactly how to play Demino. The twist on the old formula here is that there are a set number of dominos in a round, and it’s the same set in every round. But with a total of 28 dominos to work through, you only get to see seven at a time. So strategy and planning ahead are required, because relying on luck won’t get you very far.
The idea, of course, is to match tiles that have the same numbers on their ends. If you find yourself lost, you can turn on the Help mode, which will show you which tiles on the screen are compatible with the current tile. The ones available to play will give a subtle dance after a few seconds, swaying back and forth. It’s a clever little visual cue that works well, and since there’s no time limit to the game or penalty for using Help mode, you can afford to use it.
Since there’s just the one screen — just tap the “New” button at the bottom to start a new game — you can open or close the app at any time and it will bring you right back to where you left off. Changing the background color is all that Demino offers in terms of options, but that’s not a terrible thing. Demino knows exactly what kind of game it is, and never tries to be anything else.
Only the most intelligent of players will last through multiple levels. Fans of brain-training games or dominos will find Demino the best $3 they’ve ever spent.
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