nBlocks – Unblock Your Creativity

Genre: Puzzle

Players: 1

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Review:

nBlocks is a Puzzle game released on Nintendo Switch in 2024. in this game, player places LEGO-like blocks on a 13×8 grid aiming to recreate that level’s picture.

The simple visuals work well enough for the gameplay, and the sound effects of moving LEGO pieces around and hearing them snap together is spot-on. The only thing I don’t think quite works here is the soundtrack, which sounds to me like elevator music.

The gameplay here is fairly simple, and the restrictions placed on the player are virtually nonexistent. You’re not timed, not limited in the pieces you can use, all you need to do is recreate the picture, which is helpfully printed (in faded form) on the back of the level for you to use as a guide. The only thing that makes me hesitate to say that this game is for the youngest of young children is that the controls may seem to complex to a young child, and sadly this game appears to have no touchscreen support.

In addition to the puzzles, the game also comes with a creative mode, where you can make your own pictures however you want. Unfortunately, you’re restricted by the game’s rules – the grid is only 13×8, and you can’t stack pieces like real LEGO pieces.

Honestly, I just don’t know who this game is for. Younger players will likely be frustrated with the controls, older players will find the puzzles far too easy, and creative players will feel stymied by the limited size of this game’s creative space. With this being the case, I cannot recommend nBlocks, as it seems like a game that will please no one.

tl;dr – nBlocks is a Puzzle game where players try to recreate pictures using LEGO-like blocks. Unfortunately, the Puzzle gameplay is far too easy for most players, the controls far too complex for the extremely young players who might still enjoy those puzzles, and while the creative mode was a good idea in theory, it’s undermined by how limited this game truly is as a creative tool. As a result, I strain to think of anyone who would find this game anything more than a frustrating disappointment.

Grade: D

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This game has been nominated for one or more of eShopperReviews 2024 Game Awards:

Runner-Up: The “Who asked for this!?” Award

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