Shockwaves Logo.

Shockwaves Review

Game: Shockwaves
Genre: Puzzle, Strategy
System: Steam (Windows) (also available on itch.io and mobile)
Developer|Publisher: Qualia Interactive
Controller Support: None
Price: UK £3.39 | US $3.99 | EU € 3,99
Release Date: Feb 23rd, 2024

A review code was provided, with many thanks to Qualia Interactive.

Shockwaves is a number-combining puzzle game in the same vein as 2048. In it, you have a diamond of numbers, and combining numbers together pushes numbers into each other in a way that completely changes how this puzzle game must be played.

The Gameplay of Shockwaves

Shockwaves is one of those games that’s kind of hard to describe. You have numbers on a board, and when you place a new number or combine two numbers on the board, it sends out a shockwave from that number, pushing all the numbers in line with it over. If you want to see a video of the movement in action, I recommend checking out the Steam page for Shockwaves.

shockwaves A diamond-shaped board with numbers on it.
As I made this 8, the white border is pushing the other numbers around it against the far walls, but only diagonally.

And that’s the entire game. You are trying to solve a puzzle, complete a challenge, or get as far as you can in endless mode while pushing numbers around on a grid. It’s so simple yet so incredibly challenging. I was really surprised at how hard even doing basic things was at first until I got used to the action of the numbers moving around.

Shockwaves begins with the ability to choose Endless mode or Puzzles, and if you complete all 50 puzzles, you can unlock Challenges. Endless mode is just what it sounds like; you continue playing until you run out of available moves and see how high your score gets.

The menu for Shockwaves.
The three different game modes you can choose.

The puzzles are board with numbers already in place, and you have ten moves to make a 256 square out of what’s available to you. The puzzles range from simple to incredibly hard, but I found them to be difficult all the way through; as I got better at the puzzles, they moved up just as much in difficulty as I’d learned. It kept it interesting all the way through all 50 puzzles. It was like a tutorial for understanding how the blocks can and should be moved around, but it was framed as challenges, which made me more inclined to try them out.

Shockwaves made the tutorial integrated so well into the game itself, I didn’t realize that it was teaching me how to play, and that is the best kind of tutorial a game can possibly have. I was blown away by the simplicity of it, and how it seemed to keep pace with how fast I was learning. Puzzles that seemed impossible in the beginning were quickly becoming a breeze, and I ate through the Puzzles section as fast as I could.

Shockwaves A diamond-shaped board with numbers on it.
You have ten moves and a lot of tiles to move around.

This unlocks Challenge mode, which is similar to the Puzzles mode but doesn’t have a move limit. You have limited board space to make a certain number. Each of the game modes is unique, challenging, and beautifully planned out.

The Pros of Shockwaves

While Shockwaves is simple, it is beautifully made. I had no issues with bugs, and all the movement and action were smooth and eye-pleasing. The color combinations change every time you start or retry a puzzle, and they were all fun color combos. If they feel too bright, you can also easily adjust the saturation.

Shockwaves A diamond-shaped board with numbers on it.
I think this one is my favorite color combo.

It was soothing, challenging, unique, and well-polished. Overall, I didn’t have any issues with the game, and it was fun and interesting.

The Cons of Shockwaves

The sound design was fine, but I thought it was a little strange that the puzzles and things didn’t have any music. I ended up just playing my own music instead, and it made the game 1000% better, which was perhaps the point. It was significantly better than repetitive music that I would end up muting anyway; on second thought, not having music was probably a good idea. I really didn’t have any other issues with the game at all; there isn’t anything I would really change about it if I had the chance.

A diamond-shaped board with numbers on it.
Another puzzle level.

Conclusion

Shockwaves has a simple concept that is unique. The puzzles are challenging and fun, and the game has a ton of replay value. If you enjoy 2048-type games and you are looking for a lot of fun for cheap, Shockwaves is not a bad choice.

A diamond-shaped board with numbers on it.
Merging creates Shockwaves.

It’s one of those incredibly clever number games that you will find yourself going back to play again and again. It reminded me a lot of Num One, a game that I adore and keep downloaded on my PC to play when I have a few extra minutes and don’t want to dive into a complex game. It’s fun, colorful, simple, and has satisfying action on the number movement. I can’t recommend Shockwaves enough to those who like number puzzles and are looking for a new and unique challenge.

Final Verdict: Two Thumbs Up
Two thumbs up

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