The beauty of puzzle games is that there are numerous ways you can go about getting gamers to solve the puzzles. Some go for over-the-top methods to get the job done, or you can go for something simple yet challenging. Belgian game maker Sam Agten, also known as Sixtyfour, took the latter approach when making his puzzle title Stip, which has a Steam Demo available right now for you to try. Again, you might think this is a “simple puzzle title,” but there is more beneath the surface if you’re willing to try finding it as you complete puzzles.

“Stip is a number puzzle game with a simple, but striking visual style. The player uses a set of constraints to determine which numbers go in a series of dots. These constraints are not always clear, however. Players will experiment, assign, undo, and deduce to decipher their meaning.

Stip’s number puzzles are laid out in maze-like rooms that hide secrets of their own. Players will use items and environmental clues to peel away layers and find even more secrets, off-kilter puzzles, and even hidden puzzle rules that can grant an edge in further exploration. Puzzles will start to misbehave. Stip will entice you, flatter you, and shower you with random facts about numbers, if only to keep your eyes facing forward. Look at the puzzles, please, and ignore the fraying edges.”

As you can see, the simplicity is part of the “ruse” the game pulls over your eyes. You’ll have to be smart and careful as you go forth and solve the puzzles put in front of you. Here are some other game features to look forward to:

An Intricate Puzzle Box | Stip’s puzzles are laid out in rooms that have their own puzzles. Use items, manipulate the environment, and look for hidden clues to find more secrets hidden within.

Rule Discovery | Players will need to think laterally by deducing constraints, finding hidden puzzle rules that give them an edge, and pulling on threads that the game wants to keep from them.

The puzzles are evil | Stip is a virus, a parasite that craves your attention. It’ll offer you new mechanics to keep you engaged, make numbers go up, and offer you motivational confetti to keep you from looking too closely and push you to keep solving puzzles.

Transmedia Clues | Keep your eyes on social media, trailers, real-life events, store pages and even the press releases, as they may contain hidden codes to unlock more secrets!

If you’re up for the challenge, try out the demo, and then wishlist the main game on Steam!