Mixolumia is a ridiculously addictive new block puzzle!

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Mixolumia is a ridiculously addictive new block puzzle!

I have always loved block-clearing puzzle games. No matter how advanced video games have become, the pure and simple joy of fitting little colored blocks together and watching them disappear satisfyingly will always tickle a certain part of my brain. It's why I keep the original Game Boy "Tetris" on my desk, why I fondly recall the happy hours spent playing "Lumines" on the PSP, and why I'm so enamored with "Mixolmia."

This is a very ordinary block puzzle. It's a puzzle where you connect colors to make them disappear. But the diamond-shaped play space and simulated gravity put an interesting spin on the genre. Blocks can split up and slide down angled sections of the board, setting off chain reactions. It's not clear until you play it, but the experience makes sense.

And it is the sensation that makes Mixolumia special. The way the music reacts to your input, the swirling particles when you set off a long chain reaction, the airy chime when a block disappears, the slight judder of the board when you move a block left or right. Whether you're playing with a keyboard or a controller, the game stimulates all five senses and is truly a pleasure to play.

There are several modes, including a Tetris-inspired marathon in which you must clear 450 blocks with progressively faster falling speeds. If you prefer something less intense, there is a "Relax" mode where you are locked into one speed and the game is not over. For those who want a harder challenge, there is also a fast-paced Rush mode with a time limit of 2 minutes.

There are some nice extras, such as a tasteful and stylish color palette to choose from. You can even create and share your own color palettes, and there are third-party tools that make it easy. You can also add your own dynamic music and sound effects to the game if you are willing to look through the rather lengthy documentation.

Mixolumia is currently one of the best-selling games on Itch, and it's easy to see why. Not many people are making block puzzles these days, especially on the PC. And there is something about this game that makes you know it's a good game the moment you see it in motion. Between this game and the epic "Tetris Effect," it's great to see the genre making a small-scale comeback.

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