I had a really nice, relaxing time with Picross 3D 2. It’s a great sequel; HAL have really tightened it up since their previous Picross game on DS. There’s new quality of life features like hints (which I didn’t use), and a new mechanic in the two colours which shouldn’t be understated. It adds complexity to the controls but gives more avenues for the little logic calculations, the constant successive solving of which is the core of the gameplay. Internalising these calculations, doing them faster over time, is incredibly satisfying and this game had a perfect balance of difficulty for me to make me feel smart.

The presentation too is improved. There’s been obvious effort to make the game aesthetically pleasing, and it feels welcoming. There’s no plot or anything like that, but the slight amount of framing they give you is just enough. The new orange colour also has an effect on the models you uncover (which are now presented as little figurines), as they represent different shapes that don’t completely fill a cube: slopes, curves, points, etc.

Sets of puzzles open up as you complete different sorts of objectives, which is also done in a satisfying way. The best thing is that unlike the previous game, you don’t always feel pressure to be perfect; you can take a little longer, or make a mistake or two, and although your score may not be the best possible one, you still get the highest rated gem reward symbol. Yes, shiny things are a good motivator. There’s a good amount of content, at least as much as the previous game. It took me over 50 hours and I loved every minute. Puzzle fans need this game. That’s all there is to it.