Use cats to smash skulls in Boxymoxy

Boxymoxy is a free, retro-styled puzzle game in which you take control of two clever cats who need to bash their way through over 60 challenging puzzles. Created to raise money for children’s charities, this is a colorful homage to puzzle games like Sokoban and Angry Birds.

Simple mechanics

The basic mechanics of Boxymoxy are very straightforward. Using your joystick, you move two cats, Boxy and Moxy, around the puzzle areas, trying to smash the skulls that populate the levels. Each cat moves in a straight line until it hits an obstacle. Moxy, the blue cat, will smash every skull he hits, while Boxy, the purple cat, helps position Boxy.

Complex puzzles

Despite the simple mechanics, Boxymoxy’s puzzles can be deceptively challenging. Even once you’ve worked out how to use the two cats to smash every skull, there’s an additional challenge in the form of a move counter; complete each puzzle within the required number of moves to unlock more levels.

Classic puzzle enjoyment

Fans of classic puzzle games will find a lot to like in Boxymoxy. Not only are the controls simple and the puzzles challenging, but it avoids repetition even though each new puzzle consists of the same basic mechanics.

Modern design

Although Boxymoxy features classic Commodore 64 graphics and sound, it uses these tools in service of a more modern design. Character designs are humorous, with charming resting animations, and the color palette is a departure from traditional games on this platform. The soundtrack is lively and enjoyable, which is good since you’ll be hearing a lot of it on tricky puzzles.