Resynth review - A fun and relaxing musical puzzler

On the surface, Resynth doesn't do much to stand out from the quite wide pool of Sokoban-inspired puzzle games on mobile.

It doesn't have the challenge or mechanical variety of games like the recent Yankai's Peak, the narrative framework of CLARC, or the exploration of Pocket Kingdom.

But while the gameplay is lacking in areas, it's Resynth's aural aspects that proved to be its most compelling facet.

The design is simple. Every stage is a condensed grid of blocks, tiles, barriers, and switches, and you have to push and slide them into their proper position.

While there is a timer, it's subtle onscreen, giving Resynth a relaxing vibe as you figure out the correct route through levels and, perhaps more importantly, enjoy the music.

Each stage is backed by a looping melody, and each block placed and switch activated adds another note to the music.

More than a time limit or move counter, the evolving music is the element that'll likely compel you to complete Resynth's puzzles.

The music altering and becoming more complex as you push blocks into place rewards progress in real time, a tangible effect enhanced by the visuals of the level flashing and pulsing to the beat.

The music and rhythmic flashing accents the game's minimalist style nicely, making the stages feel more lively than their muted colours and dark background would suggest.

Beating levels under par adds to your pool of tokens that can be used to unlock colour palettes and a second pack of levels (also available for 99p / 99c), however Resynth's gameplay remains relaxing and relatively simple throughout.

Later mechanics introduce elements like linked blocks that move together when you push one, but a generous undo, stylised as a rewind that turns the music back along with your moves, keeps the puzzling fast and less taxing than other entries in the genre.

Resynth won't tie your brain in knots, and it doesn't offer some clever new mechanics to stand above the genre's best.

But its musical atmosphere, and how it tangles its rhythm within with the gameplay, coalesce into a calming and decently compelling puzzler.