If you like puzzles, you’re going to love this new iOS app called Zeroed Out. It has been developed by Seema Datar and is compatible with iPhone, iPod touch and iPad and requires iOS 6.0 or any later version of the OS. This app has also been optimized for iPhone 5.

Zeroed Out is a very well crafted mathematical puzzle that will literally leave you bamboozled after the first few attempts. The crux of the game is a mixture of mathematical reasoning and some logical understanding of the situation. So it has that mass appeal that not only attracts the toppers of the class but also the back-benchers to come and solve the puzzle on board.

There are two types of grids: 5×5 and 6×6 and each grid has 200 puzzles each. In each puzzle, you start with a red tile from the bottom left corner and you have to take it to the top right corner of the grid by swapping it with the neighbouring tiles, either vertically or horizontally. Now, each tile bears a number from the start of the game and every time you swap the red tile with another, all the neighbouring tiles will get reduced by one. If at any time, this number gets reduced to zero on any of the tiles, your game is over and you’re Zeroed Out!

So the concept of the game is very clear-cut and understandable. But as they say, the simplest of the questions are the most difficult to answer! Also, there are some time constraints to each of your moves. So while your mind is working out the next possible route, there’s a time-bomb ticking right against your eyes and you can’t even admire it to stop. Yes, one thing you can do is configure this time as per your suitability but the more time you take to solve the puzzle, the more points you lose out in the total.

All puzzles are very challenging. There are a lot of calculations involved alongside some calculated risks. It’s obvious that you can’t work out the whole map in your very first move, but you must be running 2-3 steps ahead of the game. To relax you a bit, there’s some beautiful music in the background. But at the end of the day, it’s your own intellectual that’ll get you home.

In any case, if you’re stuck at some point and can’t think of any possible solution, then you have the provision to check the solution. But only two such solutions are available for free and you must use them cautiously. Apart from that, the online leaderboard lets you show off your wins to the world and compete with some of the best global players. The graphics are chilled out; calm and breezy without any heavy layering which makes it more player-friendly.

The app is available for free in the App Store. Make sure you check it out today!

Pros: beautiful graphics; addictive & challenging gameplay; easy to understand, difficult to master; 400 puzzles; leaderboard; free.

Cons: none.

Worth Having App – Download the App