Atomas Review

Does the idea of a science-based puzzle game sound appealing? I didn't think so. Or, at least, that's what I thought the answer would always be until playing Atomas. Atomas is a puzzle game where players combine atoms to create new elements, and it's actually quite elegantly presented and fun even though its premise may seem a little too - I daresay - dorky.

To play Atomas, players simply tap on a circle to add atoms to the outer edge of the game board. As more atoms get added, they have to be strategic about which atoms to place between which. After a while they might get a plus atom, which allows them to combine atoms of particular types together to make new ones. As players combine these atoms together new combinations can be made, but these new atoms can crowd up the outer circle. The round ends when players fill up the game board with atoms and cannot add anymore.

To mix up the gameplay, Atomas occasionally offers minus atoms, which allow players to either move an atom from one location on the game board to another, or remove it entirely. Atomas also allows players to sometimes make random elements, which can increase scores by quite a bit (Note: these elements may not be so random to someone more acquainted with science). Finally, upon creating new elements players can also unlock lucky charms that grant bonuses like increasing the rates for plus atoms, changing the starting state of the game, and more.

As someone that's not particularly science-minded, Atomas maintains a certain amount of appeal, although some of its elements feel kind of random as a result. Players with similar backgrounds could easily find themselves confused by Atomas' premise and gameplay - at least at first. In the end though, it can be played like a color-matching puzzle game, though perhaps not at an expert level.

Atomas is a novel take on a matching puzzle game. Although it seems intimidating at first, its design and simplicity keep it relatively accessible to the point that just about anyone can jump into it and have a good time.