I’m a sucker for a good puzzle game, especially a portable one. Seven years ago, I was banging out levels of games like Cut The Rope and Blackbox on long bus rides, and now I’m doing that same thing with the musical puzzle game Rytmos, but on a Switch. It feels perfect for a bygone era of ad-free iPhone games, ideal for playing on the go with earphones in so you can properly hear its music – each level is quick, and not difficult enough to leave you stuck for more than a few minutes but not so easy that you don’t get that sweet, sweet dopamine hit when you work out a solution.
In Rytmos, you are presented with several solar systems – within each system, there are different planets. Each planet is a cube with a different puzzle on each face. The aim of each puzzle is to create a loop that goes through nodes, each of which triggers a sound. Each puzzle created adds a new layer to the planet’s soundtrack, forming a musical composition in real time as you play. Each world also introduces new mechanics that you have to use to solve the puzzles – I particularly liked the ice cube that slipped across levels, stopping your loop prematurely if it hit it, but all the mechanics somehow seem to work perfectly with the tone of each level.
Related:Journey To The Foundation Is The First Game To Get Me To Consider PSVR2
Each system is inspired by music from a different culture and time period, and each planet you solve nets you an interactive experience with a musical instrument used by that culture, which you can then use to modify and add to the musical loops you make. Songs are also saved in a record box that you can later go back and revisit. The first planet you solve is inspired by traditional mbira music in Zimbabwe, and rewards you with a kalimba, hosho shakers, and a marimba. Other solar systems focus on German electronic music from the ‘60s and ‘70s, Japanese environmental music from the early ‘80s, Ethiopian jazz from the ‘60s and ‘70s, and more.
The game feels like a love letter to world music, drawing from snapshots of different cultures in different times. Instead of appropriating these influences silently, Rytmos is proud of its inspirations and showcases them explicitly. It’s not just a game, but an educational experience, giving you a deeper understanding of each culture by directly using the instruments that shape their music. You can even use the instruments you unlock to record jamming sessions, creating your own pieces with the musical influences of the game in mind.
Rytmos is a meditative music-making experience with a specific goal in mind – sharing the music of the world, with the world. With well-designed puzzles and diverse influences, it’s worth the play if you’re keen on a relaxing, musical experience.
