Thermo Sudoku Review Summary

Refreshing thermo Sudoku with clever hand-crafted puzzles and a user-friendly interface, though heavy CPU and battery drain, unreliable progress saving, and awkward input handling hold it back.

Thermo sudoku is a favorite: The thermometer mechanic is a standout feature, with many reviewers citing it as their favorite sudoku type and praising the added twist.

UI is user-friendly: The interface is described as easy to use, intuitive, and smooth, contributing to a positive overall experience.

Hand-crafted puzzles are valued: Reviewers appreciate the hand-crafted nature of the puzzles, noting they are well-constructed and superior to generated ones.

Game is highly praised: Reviewers consistently describe the game as great, fun, and high quality, with many expressing strong enjoyment and value for money.

Puzzles are clever and well-designed: The puzzles are frequently highlighted as stunningly clever, well-crafted, and unique, providing a satisfying mental challenge.

High CPU and battery drain: The game uses excessive CPU, causing laptops to overheat and batteries to drain rapidly. This is a significant issue for mobile users.

Difficulty curve is inconsistent: Early puzzles are sometimes harder than expected, while later ones can be either too easy or extremely difficult. This inconsistency frustrates players of varying skill levels.

Input handling is awkward: Multiple input issues exist, such as double-clicking to clear, escape exiting the game, and tool deselection problems. These disrupt the gameplay flow.

Progress saving is problematic: Crashes can delete all progress, and there is no cloud save. Transferring progress between devices requires manual code entry, which is inconvenient and error-prone.

Settings changes are confusing: Configuration options are cryptic and not easily accessible from the main grid. Changing settings can also alter previously selected tools.

Thermo Sudoku variant game: The game is a Sudoku variant that adds a thermometer mechanic, where numbers along a thermometer must increase from bulb to end. This twist on classic Sudoku is the core gameplay feature.

Handcrafted puzzle quality: The puzzles are handcrafted, ensuring high quality and thoughtful design. This is a notable positive aspect mentioned across multiple clusters.

Progressive difficulty levels: Difficulty ramps up progressively, ranging from beginner to expert. Players note that later puzzles become quite challenging, especially above 6-star difficulty.

Customizable interface options: The game offers customizable interface options, including multi-select and wrong cell marking. Settings allow toggling assistance tools and error prevention features.

Helpful hint system: The game includes a hint system that teaches solving techniques rather than just giving answers. Hints are available in English and assist players in learning.

Game crashes frequently: One review mentions that the game crashes, which is a critical stability issue that can disrupt gameplay and frustrate users. This is a high-priority bug to address.

UI overlaps at non-fullscreen resolutions: On macOS, UI elements overlap when the game is not in fullscreen mode, causing usability problems. This is a specific interface bug that needs fixing for better compatibility.

Recommended for Sudoku fans: Multiple reviews strongly recommend this game to Sudoku enthusiasts, highlighting its variant puzzles and challenging nature. It is described as the best place for Sudoku fans to play.

Good value for money: Reviews mention the game is worth its price and a good investment, with one noting it offers excellent value for puzzle lovers. This suggests the pricing is considered fair.

Appeals to logic puzzle fans: The game is recommended for players who enjoy logic puzzles and problem-solving, with one review noting it helps gradually master complex systems. This broad appeal is noted across clusters.

Prefer human-made puzzles: One review recommends human-made puzzles over generic or randomly generated collections, suggesting a preference for curated content. This is a niche but specific point.

CTC bundle recommended: A single review recommends the entire CTC bundle, indicating the game is part of a larger valued collection. This is a specific but low-frequency endorsement.

Community fair range: $3.00 - $5.00.

Game completion: 27.0h.

The game starts with hand-holding puzzles that quickly ramp up to challenging ones, and most players find it becomes fun as they learn advanced logic and appreciate the handcrafted design. However, players not invested in Sudoku may find it repetitive over time.

Friction: hand-holding early puzzles; learning curve for logic steps.

Unlock drivers: ramp-up in difficulty; introduction of advanced reasoning techniques; handcrafted puzzle design; guidance.

The CTC Disciple: Uses hints and follows channel teachings, likely plays with guidance. Motivation: Learning Sudoku techniques and appreciating puzzle art through the CTC community. Stance: buy.

The Logic Puzzle Enthusiast: Plays a variety of puzzle types, uses options and hints as needed. Motivation: Enjoyment of logic puzzles and a high-quality interface. Stance: buy.

The Sudoku Fanatic: Plays challenging puzzles, likely uses hints sparingly, enjoys variations. Motivation: Seeking challenging Sudoku puzzles and the best platform for them. Stance: buy.

Cracking the Cryptic association: The game is widely recognized as part of the Cracking the Cryptic collection, developed by the team behind the popular YouTube channel. Reviewers frequently mention this connection as a key reason for their interest.

Puzzle count and updates: The game launches with 40 puzzles and is promised to receive regular updates to reach 100 puzzles within the first year. Some reviewers note that this promise has not been fulfilled for other titles in the series.

Part of larger bundle: The game is part of a larger CTC bundle and package with other sudoku apps, and some reviewers purchased the entire package. It is also compared to the Chess collection and other series entries.

Studio Goya development: The game is developed and published by Studio Goya, and reviewers compare it favorably to other games from the same developer. The quality is considered consistent with previous Goya releases.

Sync issues on Steam: The game lacks proper cloud sync on Steam, requiring manual code entry to sync progress between devices. This is a notable drawback for a Steam title and is a recurring issue in other Cracking the Cryptic apps.