Hex Town

Hex Town is a puzzle game built around placing and merging hexagonal tiles. Each tile has a type and a tier, and three tiles of the same type arranged in that type’s specific pattern merge into a single tile one tier higher. Merges can be chained to reach higher tiers and complete the checklist of tasks set for each level. A pickaxe tool returns a misplaced tile to the player’s hand, and levels can be restarted at any time. The developer states that every puzzle level has at least one optimal solution, so all required and bonus tasks are guaranteed to be achievable. Most levels take around 5 to 15 minutes, with the hardest taking 10 to 20. There is no time pressure and no game over screen.

Completing a level’s required tasks earns a loot chest containing rewards such as tiles, animals and environment options, along with occasional cursor cosmetics and trophies. Rewards come in five rarity levels, from Normal to Hexceptional, with higher difficulty puzzles granting rarer items. Levels award bronze, silver or gold stars based on required and bonus tasks, and silver or gold stars add extra rewards to the chest. Rewards are spent in the Homestead, where players build and upgrade their own town and adjust settings including weather, grass, paths, lighting, wind and fog. A Trophy Room displays earned trinkets, and a Hand Studio lets players customise their floating hand cursor with colours, skin tones, nail polish and jewellery.

A separate Hidden Object mode gives players a list of animals to locate and photograph in a scene, with a hint button that plays the animal’s sound and shows a circle indicating its location. Environments grow larger with more animals as players progress through five tiers. All modes support cooperative multiplayer for up to four players; in puzzle mode the level’s tile deck is shared across players, each holding up to five tiles, while in Hidden Object mode any player can take photos to complete shared tasks. The game was designed with controller support as a priority, includes button remapping, and features a dynamic soundtrack that loops randomly. Hex Town is the first solo project of developer Addison, who cites Townscaper, Tiny Glade and Minecraft as influences.