In years to come, the App Store will be both commemorated and condemned for revolutionising the delivery of digital content, implementing the use of innovative gaming inputs, and instigating an industry-wide transition away from fully priced releases. However, one of the most profound impacts this emergent platform has had on video games has been its ethos of ?show, don?t tell?. Monument Valley [$3.99], Sword and Sworcery [$3.99], and a number of landmark titles have fought against the limitations of a handheld device to completely immerse the user through pure aesthetic bliss. Despite not originating on the iPhone, Linelight [$1.99] is the next notable independent release that champions these values, through slick puzzles, accessible controls, and stunningly dynamic visuals and audio. The resulting concoction is an extremely memorable mobile experience that, while by no means perfect, is far grander than its subtle minimalistic design suggests.
Linelight exudes charm in every aspect of its design, presentation and gameplay, and elevates what would otherwise be an agreeable puzzle game into one that feels like an emotional journey. Through using freeform joystick controls, you send a glowing white bar across numerous challenges full of obstacles, switches and platforms in an interconnected world. However, Linelight is by no means a lonely existence - other colored bars can be encountered across the six worlds, all of which have a unique behaviour that must be both harnesse...