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Folt (Free)
iPhoneLife Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Folt is a beautiful little puzzle game by Nonverbal that embodies the “easy to learn, hard to master” school of game design. You are trying to match three or more tiles of the same color, unfolding step by step, and trying not to box yourself in. The tile colors come in a totally random order, like Tetris blocks, so you can't predict the outcome of the level through repetition; every time you try, it'll be a little different.
It's this last aspect which makes Folt both amazingly addictive and phone-breakingly frustrating. There are over 175 levels to play, and in each one you must do slightly different things—sometimes you must make a certain number of matches, but other times you need to just survive for a set number of turns or lay down 12 of a certain color of tile all at once. It's got a very lovely minimalist design, with a muted color palette of dark blues, greens, and taupes.
Like most games, Folt has a lives system; if you get boxed in or trapped, you lose a life and must start the level again. Folt also sets a timer on life regeneration; if you run out, you must either wait for your lives to return (which takes about 20 minutes per life) or pay a dollar to instantly restore them. There are also helpful powerups, like bombs which clear a small space around you or the ability to clear off an upcoming tile, and both of these (pretty vital) game elements cost money every single time you wish to use them. A couple of free bombs or color skips are handed out at random every fifteen to twenty levels, but there is no way to get them other than that. If you want them, you need to buy them.
As someone who very proudly avoided Candy Crush and basically never buys virtual non-renewable resources, this aspect nearly made me condemn the entire game. But the Candy Crush model is now the standard for free mobile apps; every single one has in-app purchases. And while it's annoying to know you're being milked for cash, it's understandable that developers have embraced it. I maintain that there should be at least some space for free players to wiggle; and in its original form, Folt was nearly impossible to play without purchases. I spent several days on just one level before the right combination of random tiles allowed me to win. I actually would have rated Folt lower, but a recent update has significantly balanced the difficulty and also offers a free endless-play mode where you can spend your time without spending your money. It's always nice to see developers tweak things when they realize there's a gameplay issue, and Folt is a unique variation on the old match-three-tiles format that is genuinely enjoyable in all the right ways.
Pros:
Appealing visual design
Easy to learn
A challenging and interesting difficulty curve
More levels than you'll ever need
Cons:
Vital powerups cannot be earned, only bought
Life system with a time delay forces you to spend $0.99 or stop playing for up to an hour
Final Verdict:
I do recommend Folt for those seeking a new distraction; you can knock off a few level attempts on the bus or during a break at work. The difficulty is tough enough to engage puzzle nerds like me without being impossible. I wish players had access to all aspects of the game without regularly paying to refill them, but it's still quite playable, especially after the most recent update in late June.
