By Kate Drake
Playdots, Inc
Most recently updated March 26, 2014
For android 2.2 and up, available on iOS
Overall Review:
Dots: A Game About Connecting is a very simple, yet enjoyable game. There are three game modes: Timed, Moves, and Infinite. Each mode employs a different strategy, but the game is easy to learn, easy to play, and has a lot of replay possibilities as you try to beat your high scores and the scores of your friends. The graphics are a simple and nice design. Unfortunately, the sound effects can be repetitive, playing the same notes in a melody as you connect each dot, but they are quiet and calm, so aren’t bothersome.
Family Gaming Assessment:
Dots is a completely family-friendly mobile game. The graphics consist of colored dots (you can choose a white or black background) and the lines which connect them. This is a game simple enough for very young children to play. Yet it is also a game that older kids will enjoy while trying their hand at strategy and working to beat their high score. As a grown up, this is a great game to play when you are waiting for short periods of time, since you can play “Infinite” mode and will still be able to put the game down at any time.
Playability Assessment:
The controls are very simple: connect two or more dots by drawing a line between them. If you make a square or rectangle, you clear all dots of that color from the board. While “Timed” and “Moves” mode have strategy to them (getting the most dots cleared in each mode is a bit different), “Infinite” mode is just connecting dots for as you’d like to play. Each dot you clear gets added to a bank of dots that allow you to buy power ups (for no offline money), which can aid you in the game.
Conclusion:
Dots: A Game About Connecting is a calm, fun, and free game which is family friendly. The game helps to teach some basic strategy, while not being over complicated or requiring much memorization. It is playable by people of all ages, and it is fun to compete with yourself to see how many dots you can clear in each game.
