Boo! Okay, now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s take a look at all the wonderful thinky games that October has brought us. With some excellent time- and space-bending Ludum Dare entries, an 18th century murder mystery, and a few spooky games for Halloween, there’s something for everyone to enjoy!
Renew My Subscription
Released: 3rd October Pricing: Free Available on: itch.io (Web)
Coming 4th for innovation and 10th overall in the Ludum Dare game jam, Renew My Subscription puts you in charge of the world’s most efficient delivery service. With only ten seconds to deliver to every house, find a route for your time-traveling delivery truck while avoiding collisions with both its past and future self.
Blink
Released: 3rd October Pricing: Free Available on: itch.io (Web)
In Blink, which took 2nd place in Ludum Dare’s innovation category and came 4th overall, blinking is a curse — when you open your eyes, you might find yourself somewhere entirely different. Find a way to make the most of this ability as you navigate Blink’s mysterious open world.
Skala
Released: 4th October Pricing: Free Available on: itch.io (Windows, Linux), Steam (Windows, Linux)
Skala is a puzzle platformer that grants you the power to grow and shrink objects in the world. Use your scaling abilities to stretch your character, squish keys, and warp the world itself to overcome obstacles and solve puzzles.
L+L
Released: 10th October Pricing: Free Available on: itch.io (Web)
A cryptic instruction-less puzzle game, L+L expects you to learn the rules through experimentation, as you draw dots and lines on the grid until each panel is satisfied.
Quadrata
Released: 10th October Pricing: Paid Available on: Steam (Windows, MacOS, Linux)
Quadrata has you playing two ice-sliding puzzles at once, using your limited turns to collect all of the diamonds on both sides of the level. Throughout its 90 puzzles, Quadrata introduces classic puzzle mechanics like portals and switches to add to the challenge.
Hourglass Temple
Released: 11th October Pricing: Free Available on: itch.io (Web)
Make your way deep into the Hourglass Temple, clambering over boxes in your search for the temple’s hidden treasure — a treasure that comes with a time-rewinding twist!
The Case of the Golden Idol
Released: 13th October Pricing: Paid Available on: Steam (Windows)
Take on the role of an 18th century detective in The Case of the Golden Idol, as you piece together the fatal events surrounding an aristocratic family’s cursed inheritance. Search for clues and rummage through cupboards and pockets for information that will help you understand what on earth is going on.
Abridge
Released: 13th October Pricing: Paid Available on: Steam (Windows, MacOS, Linux)
Abridge is a Sokoban-style puzzler in which you'll possess blocks that each have different movement and abilities based on their shape and color. Explore interesting interactions between different combinations of blocks in over 90 puzzles.
Sneaky Rat
Released: 22nd October Pricing: Paid Available on: Steam (Windows)
Sneaky Rat is also a Sokoban-style puzzle game, but this time you play a rat trying to hide in the shadows as you push a bunch of inconsiderate mirrors around! With the use of crates and light-activated switches, puzzle your way to the cheese at the end of each level.
Hilbert’s Highway
Released: 24th October Pricing: Free Available on: Web
The first of two Jack Lance games to be released this month (well, at the very least, the thinky community discovered it this month), Hilbert’s Highway has you driving a little car to push all boxes onto their targets. The catch: there are infinite boxes, so you’ll need to plan an infinitely looping journey that doesn’t interfere with itself! Simple.
I'm Too Far Gone 4: It's Honestly A Pretty Big Jump
Released: 25th October Pricing: Free Available on: Web
I’m Too Far Gone 4, Jack Lance’s equally cryptic sequel to the original I’m Too Far Gone (what happened to 2 and 3?), has us scratching our heads as we attempt to reach the ever retreating goal line. With just a strange multi-coloured block generator and seemingly no good use for it, this will certainly be a tough puzzle to crack.
The Plumber Thing
Released: 28th October Pricing: Paid Available on: itch.io (Windows)
The creator of Baba Is You brings us a strange and disturbing puzzle metroidvania game as part of the Halloween-themed Click-or-Treat bundle. In The Plumber Thing, you’ll be morphing your totally original red and blue dungarees-wearing plumber into all kinds of grotesque forms as you search for a leak under New York City.
The Boneyard
Released: 28th October Pricing: Paid Available on: itch.io (Windows, MacOS)
Another game in the spooktacular Click-or-Treat bundle, The Boneyard is a deck-building roguelike in which you use your deck of dominoes to fend off hordes of skeletons. As you progress through each stage, you’ll have the opportunity to imbue these dominoes with ghostly spirits to gain abilities and develop your strategy.
Ravenia
Released: 31st October Pricing: Free Available on: itch.io (Web, Game Boy Color)
Yes, you read that right — Ravenia is a brand new puzzler for your Game Boy Color! Fortunately, you don’t have to rummage through any boxes of old junk because Ravenia can be played right in your browser or in a Game Boy emulator. Created for the GBA Jam, this retro game combines classic Sokoban gameplay with portals, allowing you to teleport behind crates and push them in ways otherwise impossible.
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