Pink is the latest in indie developer Bart Bonte's colour series. If you're unfamiliar, each entry presents around 50 puzzles for you to solve, all of which revolve around the titular colour and the number of the level you are currently trying to complete. Several games into the concept, you might think the developer has run out of ideas, but I'm pleased to say that's far from true.
The beauty of the colour series is that it doesn't stick to one type of puzzle, and Pink is no different in that regard. While plenty of games out there stick to one set-up and build on it as you progress, Pink prefers to consistently introduce entirely new ideas, keeping you on your toes and never letting the levels become stale through repetition.
Even when the game starts to throw similar puzzles at you in the later stages, Bart Bonte has mixed up the formula enough that it still feels like a new conundrum to figure out. Alternatively, it might trick you by having a similar appearance to a previous puzzle but with an entirely different way to solve it.
For instance, an early level sees you having to move an object off the top of the screen so it reappears at the bottom. A later level appears to rehash this idea, but the solution is completely different, and doesn't involve moving the objective off-screen at all. While that might sound frustrating, it actually serves to make you appreciate the developer's creativity.
And that's the main thing that will stick with you throughout your time with Pink. As mentioned previously, there's a lot of variety in the game's puzzles, which gave me an extra layer of motivation to beat the level I was currently on. I always wanted to see what was next. Even if it wasn't difficult, I always enjoyed trying to work out the solution. And that's part of the key to Bonte's ongoing success, discovering the answer is always satisfying, no matter how tricky the puzzle.
We've spoken a lot about variety, so what types of puzzles can you expect in Pink? Well, there are some you will be familiar with. Some levels might see you guiding a ball through a maze while others task you with matching shapes. But beyond that, there are some more abstract stages to figure out. One level simply has a flamingo in the middle of the screen and you need to tap until it walks completely off to the right. That's an early example and there are some might delightfully obtuse puzzles later on, but I want to avoid spoiling them here.
Pink makes good use of all the gestures you can use on mobile too. Throughout the 50 levels, you will need to use a mixture of taps, swipes, and long presses to figure out the answer to each brain teaser. That might not sound overly impressive or interesting, but it's what allows the game to have as much variety as it does. It also means you might occasionally discover a solution by mistake, which can result in some amusing moments.
If you do happen to get stuck, Pink does have a system to help you out. A light bulb will appear in the top right after a while. All you have to do is watch an ad and you'll receive some assistance. Or, you can pay to unlock the premium version to enjoy all your tips with adverts. Personally, I'd recommend avoiding hints as it takes away a lot of the fun, but that's entirely up to you.
