Platforms: PC/Mac (Steam), Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 (reviewed), Xbox One, Google Play
The introduction of trophies and achievements into video games has been a blessing and a curse. On one hand, they may push us to do things we otherwise might not, allowing us to get more out of our games. For me though, seeing that pointless number go up and acquiring those beautiful platinum trophies on Sony’s platforms has become almost problematic. I’ve gotten to the point where I’ll buy games solely for trophies or use trophies as a deciding factor in purchasing one game over another. This has led me to buy my fair share of mediocre games and even a few downright bad ones. Every once in a while though, I’ll end up grabbing a game that is actually pretty good. One such example of this is the artistic puzzle game Glass Masquerade.
If you’re familiar with putting together jigsaw puzzles, you’ll immediately be familiar with the gameplay of Glass Masquerade. You’ll be given an assortment of pieces that you must combine in order to fill in a clock with beautiful Art Deco and stained glass designs. Each piece starts as just a silhouette, and as you examine it, it will reveal its design. Examining each piece also positions it exactly the way it will fit into the puzzle, making figuring out where each of these uniquely shaped pieces fits a little more forgiving.
While there isn’t really a story in Glass Masquerade, its puzzles are broken down into a bit of a campaign. You’ll be tasked with exploring the International Times Exhibition which features 25 different puzzles that each represents a different country from around the world. Each puzzle, when completed, will unveil a picture that is unique to the culture of that particular country and also features music inspired by that country. The music wasn’t particularly memorable, but it lends itself well to the relaxing nature of the game.
There’s a lot to enjoy with Glass Masquerade, but there are a few issues I feel are worth mentioning. First of all, it’s a short experience and probably won’t take you more than 2 or 3 hours to finish all 25 puzzles. An assortment of difficulty levels that either added more pieces or maybe had pieces that needed to be rotated in order to figure out how they fit in the puzzle would have gone a long way in both creating a more challenging experience and adding to replayability.
The other issue I have is with the pricing. Right now you can get it on Steam for $5 (and also have access to cheap DLC puzzles), but if you want to pick it up on consoles it will run you around $12 (with only access to the base game), which feels like a bit much for what is offered. It has been on sale multiple times since it was released earlier this year on consoles (I think I got it for $2 or $3), so I’d recommend picking it up on Steam or waiting for a sale unless you’re a die hard puzzle fan.
Glass Masquerade is a game that is all about offering a relaxing experience and it does just that with great success. Its 25 puzzles probably won’t take you more than a few hours to complete, and the price is a bit steep on consoles, but if it sounds like something you’d enjoy then you probably will. It’s definitely worth a look if you’re a fan of jigsaw puzzles or just need an experience to chill out with.
