Squingle is a rare gem in the VR landscape – a game that takes a simple concept and elevates it through extraordinary presentation and thoughtful design
In the ever-expanding universe of VR gaming, some experiences defy conventional categorization. Squingle is precisely one such title – a mesmerizing blend of puzzle-solving and consciousness-expanding visuals that transforms a simple concept into something truly extraordinary.
At its core, Squingle's premise is deceptively straightforward. You guide orbs through winding, organic-looking mazes while avoiding contact with the walls and collecting additional orbs along the way. Think of the buzz wire game, just way fancier. But this basic description barely scratches the surface of what makes this game so captivating.
The game's narrative framework places you in communion with a mysterious cosmic entity – a massive, ethereal face that hovers before you like a benevolent deity. This being guides you through the game's mechanics while sharing cryptic wisdom about existence, consciousness, and the nature of reality itself. While the story might not be the main focus, it adds an intriguing layer of mystique to the proceedings.
Squingle starts gently, easing you into its fundamental mechanics. The initial levels feel almost meditative as you guide your orb through relatively simple pathways. However, the game quickly reveals its true complexity. Soon you're managing multiple orbs that rotate around each other, requiring precise timing and spatial awareness to navigate increasingly intricate mazes.
The challenge ramps up organically as new elements are introduced. Pathways become narrower, obstacles appear more frequently, and the rotation patterns of your orbs grow more complex. What begins as a straightforward exercise in steady hands evolves into a multi-dimensional puzzle that demands concentration, patience, and creative thinking.
Where Squingle truly shines is in its presentation. The game's visual design is nothing short of spectacular, offering an aesthetic that feels like stepping into a living, breathing piece of abstract art. The maze structures pulsate and flow with organic movement, rendered in vibrant colors that shift and blend like liquid light. It's reminiscent of 1960s psychedelia, but with a modern, digital polish that makes full use of the Quest 3's capabilities.
One of Squingle's most impressive features is its implementation of mixed reality. Playing in this mode places the puzzles directly in your physical space, allowing you to walk around them and examine them from every angle. The ability to scale and rotate the puzzles at will adds a tactile dimension to the experience, making it feel like you're manipulating a living sculpture.
The game goes a step further with the "Wall Mode" that transforming your room's walls into undulating surfaces that seem to breathe and flow. It's an effect that creates an incredibly immersive atmosphere, making your familiar space feel suddenly alien and magical. A couple of years ago, while in Amsterdam, I went on a, uh, trip powered by some special mushrooms and I can tell you that this effect, walls breathing, is kinda similar to what I experienced that whole day... good times.
Despite its trippy visuals, Squingle remains surprisingly comfortable to play. The game offers multiple control options, including hand tracking and traditional controllers, both of which work well for the precise movements required. The haptic feedback provides subtle but crucial guidance, helping you feel when you're getting too close to the maze walls.
The ability to adjust the scale of the puzzles is more than just a visual trick – it's a practical feature that allows players to find their optimal comfort zone, whether playing seated or standing. This attention to player comfort helps maintain the game's meditative quality even during its more challenging moments.
From a technical standpoint, Squingle is impressively polished. The physics feel natural and responsive, while the visual effects maintain their fluidity without any noticeable performance issues. The mixed reality implementation is particularly well-executed, with excellent tracking and seamless integration between the virtual elements and physical space.
The audio design complements the visuals perfectly, with a ambient soundscape that enhances the otherworldly atmosphere without becoming intrusive. Sound effects provide important feedback during gameplay while maintaining the game's ethereal quality.
With 100 levels to master and multiple challenges per level (collecting all orbs, maintaining perfect runs), Squingle offers substantial content for its price point. The increasing difficulty ensures that reaching true mastery requires dedication and practice, while the mesmerizing presentation makes even repeated attempts at challenging levels enjoyable.
Squingle is a rare gem in the VR landscape – a game that takes a simple concept and elevates it through extraordinary presentation and thoughtful design. It's both a challenging puzzle game and a mind-expanding visual experience that demonstrates the unique possibilities of virtual reality.
While some players might find the later levels frustratingly difficult, and others might find the psychedelic visuals overwhelming, those who connect with Squingle's unique wavelength will discover one of the most distinctive and memorable VR experiences available. It's a testament to how virtual reality can transform even basic gameplay concepts into something truly magical. I highly recommend Squingle. Thanks for reading!
The game was reviewed on a Quest 3 via a promo copy provided by PR. Squingle is available on Meta Quest.
