Lexica Review

Posted by Mark Goninon on
Here's one I prepared earlier...

  • Developer: d3t
  • Publisher: Merge Games
  • Release Date: 4 July 2014
  • Time played: 2 hours

I'm still working on my 2013 backlog which means I'm still unable to type up any reviews from games released that year. So my wife has thankfully been kind enough to offer her help in this regard and has provided me a verbal review of a game I recently gifted to her called Lexica. Lexica is advertised as a "unique word puzzle which combines the skill of Sudoku with the knowledge of Scrabble."

Plot (N/A)
There is no plot in this game. It's a puzzle game!

Gameplay (3/5)
The game is basically a computer version of a few commonly known puzzle games. It's a game that's similar to crosswords but unlike crosswords you're not given hints as to what the complete word is; instead you're given hints as to which letters fit in particular rows or columns, a bit like Sudoku. Consequently, players who are really good with their anagrams will do well with this game since that's generally the only way you will be able to succeed.

The reason I say this is because one of the major downsides to the game is that it can be excruciatingly difficult at times. As mentioned, with crosswords you at least have a hint as to what the word is and the length of the word. You don't receive those hints here only a jumble of letters that surround the puzzle board and the only options you have available is completing the puzzle in its entirety, starting right from the beginning or quitting. There is no feedback given when you're on the right track which means some of these puzzles can be especially tricky to solve.

Puzzles usually start off looking like this

Sound (3/5)
The game has basic sound effects. There's not really anything more to say.

Music (N/A)
Interestingly there's no music in this game - not that it's really necessary though.

Graphics (3/5)
The graphics are bright and functional as you'd expect for a puzzle game. No complaints.

Replay (3/5)
While the game is challenging it can be fun and it's an especially good game to play in short bursts. There are also Steam achievements to hunt for if you're that way inclined.

Polish (5/5)
There doesn't appear to be any bugs in this game and the interface is fine as it is.

Score – 6/10

Lexica isn't a game that is terribly complex to learn yet some of its puzzles will be difficult to solve unless you happen to be very good at anagrams, crosswords and Sudoku. It's the sort of game that's ideal playing in short bursts when you don't have much time on your hand so if you're that sort of player, it might be worth a shot.

Lexica is available from these retailers:

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[ LINK: Official Lexica website ]

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