Rop Review

From the makers of Darklings, Rop is a minimalist puzzle game that's really rather compelling.

Each level consists of a series of ropes and a picture of what you need to create. You must then move the ropes around to create that desired shape. At first, this is very simple stuff. It's not hard to create a rectangle from a couple of ropes, by any means. How about triangular patterns and other concotions, though? That's where Rop turns trickier, as well as more satisfying.

And satisfying, it is. Its tactile nature is comfortable and feels really rather satisfying to deal with. Each rope has a fluidity to it that makes it feel more alive than it actually is. You simply drag the ropes around, placing them in one of the hexagonal slots that dictates where things can be placed. Don't forget – you can't place two ropes on the same slot, which adds to the challenge.

Rop relies on your ability to think visually and laterally, almost like when dealing with an IQ test, but it's fun to dip in and out of. A lot can be gained from stepping away for a moment or two and coming back to see things through a fresh pair of eyes. It's free of high score chasing, or hints, or anything particularly complex like that. Instead, the challenge stems from working your way through the set of puzzles – 88 puzzles to be exact, and they should last you a fair while. You'll be scratching your head at regular points but you'll always be back for more. It's a well made, well focused puzzle game that reminds you of just what a good approach a minimalistic take on things can be.