TENS! Switch Review – Reverse Sudoku

TENS! is an interesting puzzle game developed and published by Kwalee. It is a sudoku-like game where you need to place random die or combinations of die on a board in order to add up a line with ten points. Hence, TENS!

But is this a puzzle game that brings a lot to the table and adds more substance to a genre not well represented on the eShop? Or is this a game who’s luck runs dry quickly? Well, let’s talk about it!

In Adventure mode (Yes. There is a story of sorts.), you are initially met by Professor Ostrowl, a wise ol’ owl who introduces you to the wild and crazy world of TENS! This serves as the tutorial, and the game does a great job introducing you to the concept in a simple and direct way.

It is quite the puzzler, too. You play on a 5×5 grid, and you will be randomly given three sets of die that all must be used before moving on to the next set. You are tasked with combining numbers on a line that equal 10, but since it is on a grid, lines can be created vertically and horizontally, as well as combining both directions for even bigger points.

The way the points work is pretty simple, too. Each block that is cleared on a line that equals 10 is one point, and each normal stage tasks you in getting a certain amount of points to clear. In the early stages, it is rather simple, as there are no obstacles and problems plaguing your way. But once you get about 20 levels deep, the game gets much more challenging and becomes a lot more fun.

Combos and multilines are great ways to multiply your points, and this will serve to be more important the further you progress in Adventure. Combos are made when one line that equals 10 subtracts from a perpendicular line that becomes 10 after the subtraction. It sounds like simple math, but using the random dice makes for some challenging puzzle-solving. Multilines are simply making multiple lines of 10 at the same time. Both of these scenarios award you bonus points on top of the normal ones you get for each individual die.

As you progress, the 5×5 grids become littered with challenging squares to ruin your day. These obstacles range from preventing the placement of a die to rerolling the die to throwing the die in a particular direction. As these are introduced, they are placed lightly, but as you make your way through Adventure, these normal stages become a bit more claustrophobic as these obstacles make every decision and placement important.

Another surprise throughout Adventure mode are bosses, and for many who play this alone at first, these bosses introduce what TENS! multiplayer entails. It obviously borrows a lot from games like Tetris and Puyo Puyo in how it does its multiplayer, but it also has some unique twists, since the game is played on a Sudoku-like grid. At first, the bosses are a joke, but this is greatly appreciated, as the game does a wonderful job evolving its difficulty over the course of Adventure.

There are numerous bosses to face, and each of them have their own little personalities and styles that they use against you. There are even some bosses that challenge you multiple times throughout Adventure, and like you, they continue to get better and better and offer you a greater challenge than the previous time you met.

As you play TENS!, you will unlock different die to use. Unlocking die simply is achieved from leveling up, which you can do by simply playing the game. All of the die look awesome too, and there are some cool skins. However, I found myself sticking to one of the early die called NUMBERS, because the number is written clearly on the side of the die and not dots. I found some of the solid-colored die hard to see while I was playing the game, so although there are significantly prettier options, I chose the dullest one since it was the easiest to see.

TENS! multiplayer, like the boss battles, is some good ol’ fun, as long as you have an intellectual equal by your side to accept your challenge. This is an important point, because this is not a casual multiplayer where chance can change the game in an instant. This, like Tetris and Puyo Puyo, is a simple yet deep puzzle game that could truly be another option for esports. I would love to see two elite puzzlers duke it out in this one!

There is also an Endless mode that just lets you rack up as many points as you can, but I honestly found myself magnetized to Adventure and Multiplayer the most. There is just so much to offer, a ton of challenges to tackle, and 70 stages to clear.

TENS! is quite the package if you are a fan of puzzle games. The unique reverse Sudoku-like gameplay and the Tetris-like multiplayer will keep anyone entertained for hours on end. It plays great, sounds lovely, and has a charming look to it, but the best part is playing with friends, so make sure you find your intellectual equal before diving into the fantastic multiplayer.

TENS! Review provided by NintendoLink
Review also available on OpenCritic
Developer: Kwalee
Release Date: November 5, 2020
Price: $14.99, £13.49, €14.99
Game Size: 194 MB