Noggins

The simplest games are frequently the most addicting. That special feeling you get of just “one more minute” is that last bit of magic that can turn a good game to great—or turn a simple game into one that’s completely engrossing.

Noggins is a game where rectangular faces pop up on the screen and you try to use your mouse cursor to enclose their head in a box before time runs out. The added twist is that, while the faces change size and shape, they also change color. Each corner of the screen corresponds to a different color, and you have to match color and size before time runs out, which leads to frantic click-fests and a constant stream of addictive challenge.

The graphics are as simple as you can get; on a black field, rectangular heads sport the same facial expression every time. The eyes follow your mouse, and the cursor does have a neat effect, but that’s about it as far as graphical flourishes. The music is a very simple electronic loop but absolutely dead on with its simplicity and catchy nature. Most music loops in a simple game try to be too complicated and end up being highly annoying after about 30 seconds. Noggins nails the music track: repetitive, catchy, simple and fun.

This all combines into one addictive experience to constantly try to improve your high score. It’s a strange concept for a game, but it’s also a standout proof that anything done well can be a great game.

Why You Should Check This Out: Noggins is addictive, simple fun. The simplest concept for a game: You literally just click once per turn. The graphics are simple—the music is just a basic loop—but it all fits together in a tight, addictive package. Noggins is simple game design at its best.

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