Turning back time and building bridges: Top new smartphone games

Bridge Constructor and Portal are two puzzle games that don't really have much in common. One is about building the most stable bridge possible, the other is about overcoming obstacles with the help of wormhole portals. Now Headup Games have combined the two in one game. — Headup Games/dpa

Puzzles, wormholes, bridge construction and an unusual way to climb a mountain – here's a quick look at some of the latest smartphone games.

Gorogoa – Puzzle adventure in comic-book style

Sometimes, among the thousands of smartphone games, there's one that stands out. One such gem is Gorogoa by Annapurna Interactive. This puzzle adventure with a fairytale story has enchanting graphics and music, but the real star is the gameplay. Like a comic, the screen is divided into four frames.

Players can zoom in to examine details or even combine elements from the four frames – for example, you can place a door onto a wall to create an entrance. This combination of images can often lead to surprises. Gorogoa is available for iOS and costs US$5 (RM19.50).

Inside – Thrills while crawling through the darkness

Inside from Playdead is a dark puzzle platformer. Without any context or explanation, players slip into the role of a little boy on the run. We don't know yet why or from whom.

The game creates a dense atmosphere with plenty of thrills. The player's heart will beat faster as the boy flees danger or sneaks past guards. The plentiful small puzzles are not very difficult but can still prove fatal on the first try. Inside is available for iOS and costs US$7 (RM27.30).

Life Is Strange – A teenager who can reverse time

In Life Is Strange from Square Enix, teenager Max Caulfield returns to her old home Arcadia Bay, but much has changed in the five years she was away.

Before she can settle back in she witnesses a violent death and the shock awakens an unknown gift in her: she can turn back time and prevent the act. But that's just the beginning of her problems because she starts having visions of the destruction of Arcadia Bay.

Max also experiences all the typical problems of a teenager but thanks to her ability to manipulate time, she can quickly correct her mistakes. Life Is Strange is available now for iOS with an Android version to follow soon. The first episode is free and the full, five-episode game costs US$9 (RM35.10).

Bridge Constructor Portal – Wormholes meet suspension bridges

Bridge Constructor and Portal are two puzzle games that don't really have much in common. One is about building the most stable bridge possible, the other is about overcoming obstacles with the help of wormhole portals. Now Headup Games have combined the two in one game. The result, Bridge Constructor Portal, is plenty of fun.

Players have to build bridges over which vehicles can pass – but that's not all. The vehicles must be routed over switches using bridges and portals while avoiding automatic firing systems.

All of this is humorously watched over and commented on by GLaDOS, an artificial intelligence. Bridge Constructor Portal is available for Android and iOS and costs US$5.

Getting Over It – Mountain climbing from a cauldron

A man sitting in a cauldron has to climb a mountain using just a rock climbing hammer. Getting Over It by Bennett Foddy is either a stroke of genius or completely crazy.

The hammer has to be placed precisely to help the player get over various obstacles, and when that goes wrong – as it often does – it's back down the mountain.

It can be frustrating when after getting over a seemingly insurmountable protrusion, the next edge sends the player falling into the depths again.

When that happens there's music and inspirational quotes to encourage the player to start the ascent once more. Getting Over It is available for iOS and costs US$5. — dpa