Brothers, I really can't help but scold today's so-called “mobile game masterpieces”😤.
When you open the app store, eight out of ten games are about drawing cards, and the remaining two are about drawing cards to change skins. Regarding "SSR for first deposit" and "Limited time grab of 648 gift packs", click in and take a look. The gameplay relies entirely on automatic combat, the plot is written by hand, and the pictures are extremely beautiful. Can't you just make a fun game? Players must be forced to spend money, live daily life, and join guilds to force social interactions. If they don't go online for a day, they will feel as anxious as if they are out of love.
I just don't understand. Isn't the core of the game fun? Isn't it the sense of accomplishment brought by plot, puzzle solving, and exploration? When did it become this fucking logic of "if you top up money, you will be stronger"?
Okay, now that you're done calling trash, let's talk about something happy. Recently I came across a treasure game: "Escape Room Series 4 Lost in the Forest"🌲.
This game is free, has no in-app purchases, and has no ad pop-ups. Can you believe it? To still be able to find this kind of pure stand-alone puzzle game in 2025 is like finding gold in a garbage dump.
The plot is quite gripping at the beginning: when the heroine Susan answers the phone, her son Jimmy is dragged away by a light door. In order to save the child, she must enter the strange forest world. Sound a bit cliche? But after playing it, I discovered that the CG graphics of this game are really excellent, with light and shadow details and scene atmosphere. It is definitely in the first echelon among puzzle games, and is a hundred times better than some krypton gold mobile games known as "AAA masterpieces."
The puzzle design is also very logical, unlike some games that are difficult just for the sake of being difficult, or simply make you watch ads to get hints. Every puzzle here is closely connected with the scene and story. You have to observe carefully and use your brain to find clues. The feeling of successfully opening a trap by relying on your own reasoning is much better than drawing ten consecutive purple cards.
Moreover, there is no forced social interaction in this game. There is no need to add friends, form a team, or check in online every day. You can play if you want to, or leave if you don't want to. The game won't force you. This kind of freedom is what single-player players enjoy most.
To be honest, I have never heard of the developer, Shenzhen Martian Interactive Entertainment Co., Ltd., but just because they are willing to do this kind of free and conscientious stand-alone puzzle solving, I want to give it a thumbs up 👍.
If you are tired of being treated like a leek by krypton gold games and want to get back to your original intention of truly playing games, I highly recommend giving this a try. Remember, good games are made with care, not money.