Review: Hexologic – Attempting to Make Math Fun

Are you looking for a game that is fairly simple but will keep the gears in your head turning non-stop? Are you looking for one that will help kids learn while having fun? If so, then MythicOwl’s Hexologic is just the game for you.

Hexologic review, screenshot 1

The title itself may not sound as appealing and, if you think about it, denotes how straightforward a game it is. Think of it as Sudoku but instead of nine squares you get hexagons, and you can use the same number twice.

The hexagons are arranged vertically, horizontally, and diagonally with numbers attached to the ends of them. Players have to put numbers in the hexagons that will sum up to those numbers that are attached to the ends. Here is where it gets a little tricky: the only numbers you can choose to input are one, two, and three. 

It might seem like a simple concept at first, but it becomes more complex. One or more of the numbers you have to sum up towards can affect the other. For instance, hexagons that need to total nine may intersect with hexagons arranged vertically that need to total eight. The hexagon that connects both numbers would need to have a number that satisfies the sum of both eight and nine. The more you progress through the game, the more complex the puzzles get.

Hexologic review, screenshot 2

The game was disappointing to me. When I first saw the hexagonal character at the start screen, I thought some kind of story or sequence would play out as you see in many other games. That was not the case. Once you press start, the game offers a simple first round tutorial and then moves on to the next level. Level upon level of puzzles that get more difficult as the game goes on with no story whatsoever is all there is.

It gets tedious and boring pretty quick. What makes matters worse is the game also has unlockable puzzles that are even more complex. These allow for inserting dual numbers, similar to how domino pieces have two numbers that can be used to reach your goal. Having dual numbers at your disposal might make things easier, but there is no tutorial on how to use them or any indication that they are there to use. I accidentally found out about them by messing around with the buttons on the Switch controller to see if any of the buttons I was not using would do something. If you happen to play the game and unlock these puzzles, you can utilize the dual number system by pressing and holding the R button on your controller. Quite frankly, I gave up on the unlockable puzzles when I tried for some hours to solve one of them. If there are any positive aspects to the game, it’s that it stimulates your mind with these. It is not a game you can play absent-minded once you delve deep into it.

I wouldn’t say it was much of a thrilling game for me. I got the feeling once I played a few levels, maybe even sooner, that Hexologic is made for a younger age group. Perhaps MythicOwl sought to create a game that would sharpen children’s math skills, similar to how Bandai Namco kept children physically active with Wii Sports Club for Nintendo Wii. People who love to solve math problems or puzzles vary in age, so I wouldn’t go as far as saying Hexologic is for children. I do however think teenagers and adults wouldn’t play the game for more than a few hours. It would be best suited for children.

Overall Hexologic was okay for me as an older gamer. I would recommend it for parents looking to find a fun way for their children to hone their math skills.

Sayed covered Hexologic on Switch using a code provided by the developer.

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