App Review: Reiner Knizia’s Labyrinth leads us to a solid puzzle game

Reiner Knizia’s Labyrinth [US$1.99, universal, trial version available] is one of a number of iOS-only games the prolific game designer has created (the others being Monumental — here’s our review — Roto, Yoku-Gami and Teocalli). It’s always been difficult to keep up with the board and card games that the mathematician has come up with, but now that he is working with a number of small iOS developers, it’s almost sisyphean. While some Knizia titles are much more worthwhile than others, this is one “brand” that I’m usually interested enough in to take a look. This counts double considering that his new app comes from Tribeflame, developers of the excellent Keltis: Oracle and Through The Desert. Like those other apps, Labyrinth is a puzzle game, but what’s it all about?

The impression I get is that If Knizia had designed Carcassonne as a solitaire game, this app is probably what it would have been. Tabletop gamers already know how Knizia’s two-player version of Carcassone works (it’s the variant called The Castle), but Labyrinth is a calmer affair and specifically designed for digital play. Keep reading for the details.

Gallery: Reiner Knizia’s Labyrinth