Game: Lovux
Genre: Puzzle
System: Steam (Windows)
Developer | Publisher: Mindlabor
Controller Support: Yes
Steam Deck: Playable
Price: US $2.99 | UK £2.49 | EU € 2,99
Release Date: July 7th, 2023
Review code provided with many thanks to Mindlabor.
Lovux – A Smashing Puzzler
Puzzle games can often look deceptively simple on the surface, but the clever ones hide a satisfying bite beneath that minimal exterior. Lovux feels like one of those. At first glance it’s just a grid of tiles, but tucked inside that grid is a neat little glass-smashing mechanic that makes for a cosy but surprisingly tricky experience. It’s the kind of puzzle game that’s easy to pick up, quick to understand, and just tricky enough to keep you clicking away “one more level” before bed.
Breaking Glass (Nicely)
The goal in Lovux is straightforward: clear the board of all the tiles. You do this by activating special tiles marked with arrows. When tapped, these arrow blocks pull back, then shoot forward to smash through every tile in their row, shattering them like glass. There’s a real sense of satisfaction in watching a neat line of tiles crumble, it’s subtle, but oddly stress-relieving, like popping bubble wrap digitally.
Of course, the challenge is that these arrow blocks can’t break themselves unless there’s another tile in their path. That means it’s all about pressing them in the right order, chaining moves together until everything on the board is cleared. It’s simple in concept, but quickly becomes a brainteaser of trial and error.
Fresh Mechanics, Every So Often
One of the things I liked about Lovux is how it keeps things fresh. Every 10 levels or so, a new mechanic drops in to change how you approach puzzles. Early on, you’ll find tiles that need to be smashed twice before they break. Later, other twists appear that force you to rethink your approach and plan moves more carefully.
It’s not an overwhelming flood of mechanics either, the game eases you in, lets you get comfortable, and then nudges the difficulty up when you’re ready. Some levels are uncluttered and straightforward, others feel like chaotic tangles that will really test your patience. It keeps the rhythm varied.
Stress-Free, Mostly
Puzzle games live and die on how they handle mistakes, and thankfully Lovux is forgiving in the right ways. There’s an unlimited undo button, letting you backtrack as far as you like, or you can just restart a level entirely if you feel you’ve made a total mess. That’s always appreciated in puzzle design, it encourages experimentation rather than punishing you.
The downside? No hint system. If you hit a wall, you’re on your own. Sometimes that’s fine, part of the fun is bashing your head against the puzzle until it clicks, but occasionally it can slip from “challenging” to “frustrating.” Skipping levels isn’t an option either, so progression really depends on perseverance.
Presentation and Feel
Visually, Lovux is minimalist. The tiles have a kind of glass-like look to them, and when they break, they sound and behave just enough like real glass to give that tactile crunch. It’s clean, functional, and doesn’t distract from the puzzles.
The soundtrack is equally unassuming. It’s fine for background noise but not something you’ll remember once you stop playing. Controls are simple: just click the arrow blocks to activate them. On Steam Deck, you can also tap directly on the screen, which feels surprisingly nice and makes it even more casual-friendly.
Plenty of Puzzles, Small Price
For the low asking price, Lovux gives you 90 levels to chew through. Some you’ll breeze past in seconds, others will stump you for much longer. There’s also optional DLC that adds a level editor so you can create and share your own puzzles. Personally, I think it could have been included in the main package, but I get it, it’s a way to support the developer further if you really enjoy the game.
Achievements are included for those who like them, but the real appeal is just the straightforward puzzle flow: break, think, retry, smash again.
Conclusion: Stress Relief
Lovux is rather smashing. It’s a cosy, clever little puzzle game that combines stress relief with thoughtful challenge. Whether you’re playing a few levels on a coffee break or winding down in the evening, it fits neatly into that “casual but satisfying” category.
At under $3/£3, it’s easy to recommend if you’re even mildly into puzzle games. It won’t blow your mind, but it will give you plenty of glass-smashing fun and more than a few “a-ha” moments along the way.
Final verdict: I like it.
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