Pipe-joining games have been around for decades, but it's fair to say that the closest the sub-genre has come to having a Citizen Kane moment is appearing as a mini-game in BioShock.
Can Pipe Swipe, from Chippy BM Games, finally elevate the concept to the dizzy heights of critical acclaim?
Granddad's PipePipe Swipe is a simple game both in terms of execution and presentation. According to the story, you're a paint mixer in a factory, tasked with making sure paints of the correct colours make their way to their intended destinations.
Unfortunately, the pipes that connect the different ends of the factory have somehow become mixed up and disconnected. You have to twist, slide, and spin the pipes to allow the paint to flow.
You move the different bits of pipe around by tapping and swiping on the screen. Some pipes can't be moved, some can't be twisted, and others are locked in place.
Conditions change from level to level, too. Sometimes the paint will wait for you to release it, while at other times it just comes out after a certain period.
Pipe and slippersPipe Swipe is challenging and fun, with well-designed puzzles that'll get you scratching your head. There's rarely any frustration, but at the same time there's nothing particularly special or different about Pipe Swipe either.
It's a competent, enjoyable piece of digital entertainment that doesn't add much to the template laid down by Pipe Mania all those years ago.
If you're looking for a simple, engaging puzzler that's well put together, then you could do a lot worse than Pipe Swipe. Just don't expect a masterpiece.