Parents' Guide to BoxBoxBoy!

In a world of full of flash and hype, sometimes it's the simplest of ideas that strikes a chord with people. Take BoxBoxBoy!, the sequel to Nintendo's hit 3DS puzzler, BoxBoy!. It's a simple-looking game with an even simpler premise. Players take control of Qbby, a cartoon box that can spawn a chain of more boxes he uses to cross, climb over, and otherwise bypass a variety of hazards. The sequel adds a new twist, giving Qbby the ability to create two chains of boxes, adding an extra level of depth to the 2-D puzzler. On paper, it seems like a pretty basic addition to the gameplay, but in practice, it adds a new layer of complexity. And given that there's a limit to the number of boxes Qbby can use to successfully collect the crown in each stage, there's a lot more forethought and planning required this time around. For fans of the original, it's just the right thing to improve on an already near-perfect puzzle experience.

BoxBoxBoy! is a fantastically addictive puzzle game. It's easy to pick up and difficult to put down. The game doesn't rely on splashy, high-definition graphics or some deep plot to grab players' attention. Instead, it uses the most basic of visuals and tosses players into the mix. The game's gradual increase in difficulty keeps things challenging without ever reaching that hair-pulling level of frustration. If there's one complaint to be had about BoxBoxBoy!, it's that there's just not enough of it. While the game features more than 120 individual stages and a lot of unlockable content, including comics, costumes, music, and more, you can finish off everything it has to offer within a day or so. That being said, BoxBoxBoy! is still a blast to play and a must-have for any 3DS owner.