Dinsun Review
I’m a sucker for a well-designed indie puzzle game, and About Love and Hate is one of the better ones I’ve played in years. The core mechanic—attracting and repelling—is simple to understand but leads to some truly brain-bending scenarios. It’s a conservative approach to design: pick one mechanic and explore every possible permutation of it. I love that. No filler, no useless power-ups, just pure logic.
The art style is fantastic—it has a storybook quality that feels both timeless and modern. As a 40-year-old gamer, I appreciate the deliberate pace. It doesn't rush you; it lets you sit and think. The levels are perfectly paced, introducing new elements just as you're starting to master the old ones. My only gripe is that it can feel a bit repetitive towards the end, but that’s a minor complaint in an otherwise stellar package. It’s a dignified, intelligent game that deserves a spot in any puzzle fan's library.
Overall Stats
Pros & Cons
- Brilliant, logic-based level design
- Beautiful, unique hand-drawn art
- Perfectly balanced difficulty curve
- Can feel slightly repetitive in late levels
- Minimalist story might leave some wanting more
- Some puzzles feel a bit trial-and-error
Technical Report
Performance: Flawless performance; the touch controls are precise.
- Colorblind-friendly design
- Unlimited undo
Audience Fit
Buy if: You love pure logic puzzles and unique art styles.
Skip if: You want an action-packed game or a heavy narrative.
- Monument Valley
- Gris
- Pushmo
Reviewer Context
- Reviewer: Dinsun, a very critical gamer, very hard on the score
- Hardware: iPhone 13 Pro Max
- Playtime: 8 hours
- Status: Finished all 80 levels
