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About Cinicross
CiniCross is a puzzle roguelike from Hydrobates that drops you into a tree-shaped dungeon where every room is a nonogram puzzle. Released in February 2026 for PC and Linux, it blends procedural generation with a dark fantasy aesthetic. You solve increasingly complex grid-based puzzles to navigate the dungeon, choosing branches that lead to new challenges. Artifacts and items tweak gameplay, like limiting puzzle size or adding time pressure. The game thrives on repetition and adaptation. If you’ve ever enjoyed Sudoku with a permadeath twist, this might hook you. It’s not flashy, but the escalating difficulty and branching paths keep things fresh.
Gameplay
Each session starts with a root node branching into smaller rooms. You solve nonograms, logic puzzles where shaded cells form hidden images, to unlock paths. Boss rooms replace grids with timed challenges or hybrid puzzles requiring artifact use. Mistakes reset rooms, but progress is saved unless you die. Artifacts like "Mirror" flip puzzle logic or reduce grid size, forcing you to rethink strategies. Sessions often last 30, 60 minutes, with later runs feeling like a grind to master mechanics. Controls are minimal: mouse-driven grid clicks and inventory toggles. The roguelike loop, die, learn, retry, pairs with puzzle-solving that leans heavy on pattern recognition. It’s punishing but methodical, rewarding players who memorize puzzle layouts and artifact synergies.
What Players Think
PlayPile users rate it 4.7/5, with 82% completion on average. Most play 8, 10 hours before quitting, and only 62% beat the final boss. The mood is split: 45% label it "frustrated but determined," 30% "proud," and 15% "annoyed." Community reviews praise the puzzle scaling but criticize the vague artifact descriptions. One user wrote, "CiniCross is a masterclass in incremental difficulty. Room 15 feels like a riddle wrapped in a paradox." Others gripe, "Bosses feel unfair until you realize they’re just glorified minigames." The game’s 225 achievements focus on puzzle mastery, with 17% of players hitting 100% completion. Linux users report minor frame drops, but core mechanics are consistent across platforms.
PlayPile's Take
CiniCross is for logic enthusiasts who don’t mind grinding for progress. At $19.99, it’s a mid-tier indie gamble, enough to test your patience but not your wallet. The puzzle design is sharp, but the learning curve is brutal. If you thrive on solving layered logic traps and can tolerate permadeath fatigue, it’s worth the dive. Otherwise, skip it. The 225 achievements add replay value, but don’t expect a smooth ride. This isn’t a game you’ll breeze through. It’s a puzzle dungeon you’ll either conquer or abandon in a rage.
Game Modes
Single player
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