Hundreds

Hundreds is probably the best mobile game I’ve played, which is absurd, because I played the Android version, whose final 2014 update caused unavoidable crashing beyond level 60-something (out of 100). I could list the exact ramifications and internal arguments that inform my overall opinion, but the gist is that, prior to that cut-off point (and presumably after it on iOS), this game was wall-to-wall quality, and I regret nothing about its purchase.

Realized through stunning minimalism, Hundreds is built, like many classic puzzle games, on a strangely compelling mechanic that doesn’t really click until you get it in your hands. Pressing numbered circles to inflate their total size to 100 without overlapping doesn’t sound special, but when those circles bounce around amid a variety of clever patterns and objects, it becomes completely engrossing. These tools and obstacles include sawblades, object-freezing snowflakes, and circles featuring pause buttons, negative numbers, and tethers, among other things. All of these mechanics work together with excellent use of a multitouch interface to create a stimulating experience for both sides of the brain. Touches and time used to complete each level are recorded, which seems like a missed opportunity for some kind of challenge mode, and there’s a small cryptology subgame that’s totally pointless, but those are my only complaints – crashing issues aside.