Apple Arcade review #62: Grindstone
Everything about Grindstone oozes polish, quality and focus testing. And yet, to its credit, it feels idiosyncratic. This is obviously a game made by developers who understand the platform. It’s reflected in the user interface and touch controls, clean, clear and expressive art, and the mix of mobile game mechanics. It’s a fantasy hack-and-slash Candy Crush.
Grindstone is fun to play. I’m definitely not the target audience, and yet I was constantly having just one more go before sitting down to write this review. Everything about the game is tailored to keep you engaged, keep you playing, and to provide incentives to do so. It’s really, really well made. In many ways, it’s the perfect mobile game. You can play it for three minutes, with one hand, finish a level and feel rewarded.
This game wasn’t made for me, but I still enjoyed it, and for the millions out there who enjoy puzzle mechanics and are looking for that short, sharp hit of dopamine as they chain together mighty attacks, Grindstone’s your ticket.