Only Screw Puzzles

Although I don't describe myself as a gamer, nor did I ever intend to make gaming apps, this is my first attempt at creating one. Like all my apps, the motivation for this came from my personal experience playing similar games.

Read More

No Ads every Tap or for Bonuses; No Pay-To-Win Microtransactions; No Deceptive Levels; No Mini-Games or Side-Quests — Only 100% Real Physics Screw Puzzles.

A premium, minimalist physics puzzle game where logic is your only tool. Solve intricate mechanical boards by unscrewing pieces with a 100% realistic physics engine. Create your own experience with custom levels—adjust settings for a relaxing session or a complex mental challenge.

No Side-Quests & Mini-Games

Other so-called "Casual Games" have become a complex minefield you have to navigate just to start playing a level. Only Screw Puzzles is the opposite of this — opening the app immediately gives you the option to play the next level or a custom level, making the actual puzzle gameplay the focus.

No Ad Overload

Many games start off well but eventually clutter your experience with ads between every level and for every upgrade. Only Screw Puzzles uses only duration-based ads, and you only need to watch one to unlock all tools for an entire level.

No Aggressive Monetization

You won't be pushed to buy multiple packages or virtual coins for bonuses. Only Screw Puzzles features honest gameplay and a single optional subscription for upgrades — all of which remain accessible via a single ad.

No Mental Deadlock

Sometimes you want a challenge; other times, you just want to relax. Unlike other casual games that lock you into a rigid difficulty curve, Only Screw Puzzles lets you adjust multiple settings to create a custom level that suits your current mindset.

When you just want to have a relaxing break, you can turn down the difficulty of the levels by adjusting the following settings:

No. of Layers

Unlock From Level 10

This is how many layers of puzzle pieces for the level. The more layers, the longer you need to clear the top layers to access the deeper levels.

No. of Puzzle Piece Shapes

Unlock From Level 50

This is the variety of puzzle shapes available in that level.

Puzzle Piece Materials

Unlock From Level 100

This changes the physics of each piece, requiring more planning on the sequence on unscrewing them.

No. of Puzzle Piece Screws

Unlock From Level 140

This makes each piece have more screws holding it up. Requiring better planning to release the deeper levels.

No. of Screw Colours

Unlock From Level 180

As more screw colours become available, you now start to require some luck to be sure the screws you need are the ones accessible.

No. of Screws in Boxes

Unlock From Level 270

This now means requiring more screws to close a box. Some levels start to become impossible to complete, with a lot of luck needed.

Although I don't describe myself as a gamer, nor did I ever intend to make gaming apps, this is my first attempt at creating one. Like all my apps, the motivation for this came from my personal experience playing similar games.

For me, the last time I properly played games was in the 1990s on the PC. These games were a distraction—something to do between other responsibilities. They weren't complex with backstories requiring a manual or hours of investment. You could play for an hour, or even just a minute, and simply close it.

When I recently moved apartments, I had quite a bit of downtime while setting up and decided to find a simple, casual game—hoping for the same experience from my youth. I wanted something I could play for just five minutes while waiting for workers. Despite finding a game described as 'Hyper Casual', I was stressed by the complexity within it.

Although the actual gameplay was quite nice—watching the pieces fall as you unscrew them—getting to the game itself felt like navigating a minefield. I was asked to create an account, spin a wheel to win a bonus, or play another mini-game with its own high-score ranking to beat.

When I finally got to the game level, the stress continued. As I progressed, I was shown ads between every level. The levels were cunningly designed to seem easy at first, but then lock you in—where your only option was to watch an ad for a single bonus or purchase an upgrade package.

What I had hoped would be a hyper-relaxing minute turned into a super-stressful five minutes. This is why I decided to try making a game that had the simplicity of the old games—and so Only Screw Puzzles was created.

As the name suggests, Only Screw Puzzles is designed to get you straight to the game as soon as you open the app. All levels are randomly generated, so you don't get trapped into purchasing upgrades or watching multiple ads. You can always play simpler levels by adjusting the settings.