20 Small Mazes

I’m not much of a PC player in comparison to console, so it’s not often I play a game based on Steam recommendations. Recently, while getting free items from a string of Fests, I decided to take a look and was recommended the indie puzzle game 20 Small Mazes, which looked interesting enough to try, especially since it was available for free. While short, the amount of creativity on display makes it a fun time while it lasts, even with the limited replay value.

The gameplay consists entirely of 20 mazes, each with their own unique gameplay and solutions. Each maze is controlled using a keyboard and mouse, with the arrow keys and WASD to move and the mouse to swap between mazes, but this control scheme is utilized in various creative ways to ensure that no two mazes feel the same. That said, once you beat the game, there isn’t much replay value beyond seeing how fast you can solve them all since the solutions on some of the more unique ones don’t change, but some can still provide a challenge anyway. Although the mazes stand out from each other gameplay-wise, there is still a uniform visual style that ties them all together. Aside from a few sound effects, there isn’t much of a soundtrack to speak of. I didn’t really see an issue with this, but some may feel encouraged to play their own music in the background if they wish to fill the void.

 

The first thing you see and a small sampling of what you're in for.

 

For those looking for a more unique puzzle game on Steam, 20 Small Mazes is a great one to play, especially since it’s completely free of charge. The developer has also recently announced a follow-up title, Strange Jigsaws, and their ability to put a quality puzzler in such a small package makes me interested to see how it turns out.