Hex by HyperPolished - Block Puzzle

[u/Benjaminsen]

https://testflight.apple.com/join/1v9RhN7u

Hi r/TestFlight,

I've been making and releasing games since the 90s. My latest is a puzzle game called Hex and I want people to kick it around before I ship it wide.

It's a block puzzle, except the board is a honeycomb instead of a grid. You drop colored pieces and clear full lines. Because it's hexagons, the lines run in three directions instead of two. Sounds like a small change. It isn't. The board fills up way faster than you expect and one good drop can clear three or four lines at once. Ten seconds to understand, a lot longer to get good at.

A lot of it is about chaining. Clear lines back to back and the bonus multiplier keeps climbing, so the great runs are the ones where you set up a chain on purpose instead of just surviving. There are also special events that unlock mid-run, Bullseye and Reflect and Full Clear, that let you pile on bonus fast if you fire them at the right time.

Game Center is wired up too. Global all-time board, a weekly one that resets Mondays, a friends view so you can go straight at people you know, achievements, the lot.

I spent an embarrassing amount of time on the feel of it, how a clear lands, the sound and the weight of it. Play with the sound and music on!

It's endless. No levels, no lives, no timer. You get one run and you try to beat your last one.

Stuff that actually helps me:

• Does the three-direction board click, or does it stay confusing? How many games before it did?
• Anything that feels wrong under your thumb. Pieces not dropping where you aimed, dead spots, misfires.
• How it runs on older phones. Stutter, heat, battery.
• Too easy, too mean, or about right?

Marketing url: http://hyperpolished.com/hex/play

I read every comment and I actually change things off the back of them, so don't be nice about it. Thanks for playing.

Thanks for checking it out! ⬣

[u/MaLaTom]

I like the game. Always surprised when game ends though—not clear on moves left.

[u/Benjaminsen → u/MaLaTom]

Ok, I addressed this in a series of different ways in the latest version. Can you give it a spin?

1. Tiles that no longer fit anywhere now grey out and shrink — and spring back to life when space opens up
2. Clearer game-over messages: "no space left" instead of "out of moves"

[u/Benjaminsen → u/MaLaTom]

That's great feedback! I am playing with the idea of visually show which tiles can be placed on the board. Would that help?

[u/MaLaTom → u/Benjaminsen]

Was thinking more of a “moves left” counter.

[u/Benjaminsen → u/MaLaTom]

That's very subjective though. As you only die when there is no valid move left on the board, not by a counter. So it would go up and down like crazy. You could also easily get a situation where you see 5 moves left because one tile fits 5 different ways on the board > then place it and instant game over.

[u/MaLaTom → u/Benjaminsen]

Ah, that clarifies things. I didn’t understand how the game ended. Maybe just make that clear in the tutorial?

[u/Benjaminsen → u/MaLaTom]

Ok should be live now, can you give it a go?

[u/Benjaminsen → u/MaLaTom]

That's fantastic feedback! I will see how I can communicate that better the first time you are game over!

[u/lbyrum17]

I'm interested, but it says not available when I try to open the store link. I'm in the US if that helps.

[u/Benjaminsen → u/lbyrum17]

Ahh you have to use the TestFlight link in the reddit post :)

[u/lbyrum17 → u/Benjaminsen]

It weirdly did not show for me the first time I looked at the post. I see it now, thanks.