Clever Buttons Review

No actual sewing experience is needed to play Clever Buttons. Players are in no danger of pricking themselves with any needles, but while they won't end up with anything they can wear when they are finished sewing their way through a few levels, this game will definitely stitch a smile on their faces.

Clever Buttons is a puzzle game where players must eliminate the required number of buttons from the stage by matching them up, and they must be clever to do so because the game has some tricks up it's well-buttoned sleeve. Buttons of the same color are connected by stretching threads with a finger from one button to another. Once the finger is lifted the connected buttons disappear. However, unless the thread is looped back to the first button in the string, this will leave a stitched line that other threads can not cross. Walls of thread, some of which can also be matched, will also block threads making it more difficult to string buttons together. In later levels, some of the buttons wont be "sewn" on to the background and will slide downward off the screen if they aren't matched quickly, adding a time element to the puzzles.

There's also a Score Attack mode where players must match and loop as many buttons as they can in 60 seconds. Matches will extend the time on the clock and trapping other buttons in loops will award bonus points.

Playing Clever Buttons is an absolute joy, not least of all because it's simple art is so charming. Most importantly, the game's puzzles are well though out and provide that ever elusive balance between difficulty, challenge, and satisfaction. Clever Buttons walks that fine line very well and players will feel very clever indeed when they complete each puzzle. With fifty plus levels of varying difficulties and more on the way, this game will no doubt keep players sewing more buttons and going through more colorful thread than Lady Gaga's seamstress.