Solve switch based puzzles in circuits with Electronics Puzzle Lab.  You might even learn a thing or two about electronics and circuitry along the way.  Maybe.  It’s available on all current consoles and PC, but reviewed on PS4 here.

In each level you are presented with a circuit board and must solve a problem with it, usually turning a red light on.  Later levels you might have to turn several red lights on, or avoid turning any blue lights on, etc.  You’ll have a battery and lines to show you where the power goes, and there are switches and other nodes to watch out for.  When you solve a puzzle you can move onto the next.  Simply move a cursor around the screen and press the button to flip switches.  If you forget what something does, you can read up on it in the options menu.

I don’t know if this game would be considered educational on its own.  I think you would need some prior knowledge of how this stuff works or a supplement book on electronics or whatever.  After a set of levels, they introduce a new node and give you a puzzle, and I just guess which switch to hit and then they say, “Now you understand how it works.”  Well, not really.  And once I got to the puzzles that combined nodes that do the opposite of the switches and the ones that combine inputs, my brain just turned off.  But then, I’m not very good at a lot of math and science stuff.  I bet my dad would like this game, as he studied electrical engineering in college.

Kid Factor:

Nothing violent or objectionable here.  I would say this game is only educational with some prior knowledge or other learning materials.  But it would be good for kids to learn this kind of stuff because of the way the world is going now.  Strong reading skill is needed and because of the challenge I think this one is best for older kids.  Electronics Puzzle Lab is rated E for Everyone.

Tags: Game Reviews