There are a number of maps based on real-world locations you can choose from, each presenting a different challenge to the last, subtly based on that place’s actual traffic issues. It really is that simple – there’s a score counter which goes up every time a coloured dot gets to the correct place, and you lose when too many dots can’t get to their destination. Mini Motorways is a game about creating roads and infrastructure to help red dots get to work at the red factory, blue dots to work at the blue factory, and so on. This half-sequel sees a major graphical overhaul to the original Harry Beck-inspired minimalist map as well as some thematic mechanical differences to deal with the unique problems an overground landscape presents. If you’re familiar with Mini Metro, then you’re already part of the way towards understanding Mini Motorways (this one’s about cars instead of trains). ![]() Mini Motorways | Steam/Switch/iOS/macOS/Windows | £7.19 As a child, I found this minigame slightly more taxing than I could ever be bothered to deal with but recently returning as a young adult with a handful of A-Levels and genuine accomplishments, it still proves slightly more work than I can handle. In one, you are tasked with setting up an obstacle course with toys you’ve earned by completing puzzles in such a way that your obese hamster will walk far enough to lose weight. There are over 150 brainteasers to work through, though only half of those will actually take any work, and if you complete them all there are still minigames to keep you entertained. Professor Layton for mobile offers a perfect bite-sized dosage of heartfelt story, wondrous locales, and engaging (enough) puzzles for someone to dip into while on the go. The ‘Puzzles’ theme song is aptly haunting and mysterious, the Professor is always teaching Luke about how to be a gentleman, and whenever you discover a new location the Professor and Luke are quick to converse about how spooky or beautiful it is. The puzzles range from simple logic gates, block sliding challenges, and actual algebra, and they never really get much better than that, but realistically how difficult would you want a game like this to be? You might look at some of these basic puzzles and completely discount the game as something to teach kids about thinking outside the box, but it’s not the puzzles you stick around for: it’s the charm. ![]() You encounter puzzles by pushing through the story and talking to people (who seem to base their entire personality around crosswords and tea) or by tapping wildly on the game’s many hand-drawn environments until one pops out of a hedge or a chimney or an alley cat’s arsehole. The core gameplay of this pseudo point-and-click adventure comes in the form of puzzles scattered throughout the game. Still following? Of course you are this game is made for kids. To synopsise: Pandora’s Box sees Professor Layton and his sidekick, Luke, exploring the phantom town of Folsense while on the hunt for the Elysian Box, an ancient artifact a friend of Layton’s was researching when he was murdered, landing the Professor in the middle of a three-way race for the box – there’s also, like, a vampire, who the townsfolk are pretty chill about but it’s also kind of possible that the town doesn’t even really exist. ![]() If the other entries are of interest to you, perhaps as a result of Stockholm Syndrome nostalgia, you’ll find the first instalment, Curious Village, and the third instalment, Lost Future, on the app store ported into glorious HD too. ![]() When I played through the originals as a child, Pandora’s Box was my favourite as it achieved a unique blend of wacky anime bullshit and spooky intrigue that captured my fledgling imagination. The original Professor Layton Trilogy has been ported to mobile devices in HD (in case the name didn’t make that clear) marking a considerable upgrade from the 256×192 pixels of the original DS. Professor Layton and Pandora’s Box: HD for Mobile | iOS/Android | £8.99 Professor Layton and Pandora’s Box – Level-5 If you’re ever in a similar situation then worry no more, as I present you with two games that are perfect for an offline cross-country voyage. Often, I find myself on the bus or train with no phone signal and think, “Damnit, why do all of my games need an internet connection?” Such is the supreme folly of man.
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