App Army Assemble: A Fragile Mind - \"Will this puzzler leave you scratching your head?\"

This week, Pocket Gamer's App Army tackled the puzzle adventure A Fragile Mind from Glitch Games. The game, a twist on the classic escape room formula with added humor, received mixed reviews. While some lauded its challenging yet engaging puzzles and witty writing, others found the presentation lacking.

Here's what our App Army had to say:

Swapnil Jadhav

Initially, the game's icon suggested a dull experience. However, A Fragile Mind proved surprisingly unique and captivating. The puzzles, though difficult, were highly engaging, making it one of the best puzzle games Jadhav has played. He recommends playing on a tablet for optimal experience.

Max Williams

This point-and-click adventure features static, pre-rendered graphics and a somewhat ambiguous storyline (if one exists at all). Each level represents a floor in a building, requiring players to solve increasingly complex puzzles to progress. Interestingly, not all puzzles need solving to advance, and some require items obtained on subsequent floors. The game incorporates clever fourth-wall-breaking elements. While Williams appreciated the hint system, he felt it was perhaps too readily available. Navigation presented a minor challenge due to the interconnectedness of rooms and corridors. Despite this, Williams considers A Fragile Mind a strong example of the genre.

Robert Maines

A Fragile Mind is a first-person puzzle adventure where the player awakens in a building's garden with amnesia. Progress involves exploring, taking photos, and using discovered objects and clues to solve puzzles. While the graphics and sound are unremarkable, the puzzles present a significant challenge, occasionally requiring walkthrough assistance. Maines notes the game's brevity and limited replayability.

Torbjörn Kämblad

A seasoned escape-room puzzle game enthusiast, Kämblad found A Fragile Mind to be underwhelming. The muddy presentation hindered puzzle identification, and UI design choices, such as the menu button placement, added to the frustration. The pacing felt off, with an abundance of puzzles presented from the outset. This led to a sense of disorientation, necessitating early use of the hint system.

Mark Abukoff

Generally not a fan of puzzle games due to their difficulty and perceived lack of reward, Abukoff found A Fragile Mind enjoyable. He appreciated the aesthetics, atmosphere, intriguing puzzles, and the well-designed hint system. He considers it a worthwhile experience, despite its short length.

Diane Close

Close describes the gameplay as a complex layering of puzzles, similar to a giant Jenga game, requiring players to solve multiple puzzles simultaneously. She praises the game's flawless performance on Android, abundant visual and audio options, and strong accessibility features. The humorous elements enhance the experience. Close found the game highly engaging, even for an experienced puzzle player.

What is the App Army?

The App Army is Pocket Gamer's community of mobile gaming experts, regularly providing feedback on new games. To join, visit their Discord or Facebook group and answer the joining questions.