Sp!ng challenges players to maneuver through a vertical maze while collecting gems. It’s easy to learn — you play with a single finger. The game can be exciting or relaxing, depending on how you play.
This offering from SMG Studio is one of my favorites on Apple Arcade. Here are six reasons why I think you’ll like it, too.
1. It’s exciting
Start a level of Sp!ng (not Sping) and your tiny character immediately drops out of a portal, so you have less than a second to find the first anchor and shoot out a rope to catch it.
Anchors are scattered around each level. Only one is active at a time — whichever one your character is closest to. That is why you can play the game with a single finger. You use a rope to catch hold of the anchor, then release it so you travel in the direction you (hopefully) want to go.
Along the way, your character collects jewels by passing through them.
It’s a simple idea but that doesn’t mean the game is easy. First off, your character never stops moving. Even when you’re connected to an anchor, your character will still circle around.
The mazes are vertical, and gravity is an ever-present reality, so you keep dropping toward the bottom. You can bounce off some walls, but watch out for the spikes.
You’re trying to maneuver yourself into a second portal to end the level. But there’s plenty to get in your way.
2. Sp!ng is challenging without being too hard
Screenshot: SMG Studios
Each level of Sp!ng presents different challenges. There are moving barricades covered in spikes, and walls that grab your character and drag it along. Flippers and cannons will send you zooming down long tubes.
Gravity can be used against you, too. It’s constantly pulling the character downward, and some levels require you to keep moving upward to finish.
But Sp!ng doesn’t (usually) get frustrating, because you can start over an unlimited number of times. And if you get to a level you simply can’t finish, you can easily skip it and go on to the next one.
I recommend going through every level twice. Once aiming simply to finish, then a second time trying to get every jewel. You might even take a third pass to see how quickly you can complete the maze.
Just be aware that, as you progress through the game, levels get harder and harder. You’ve gotten better at playing Sp!ng, and it needs to keep challenging you so you don’t get bored. Levels get longer and more packed with various obstacles.
Plus, SMG Studio adds other twists to keep things interesting. That includes two daily challenges.
3. The game can be very relaxing
One of my favorite Sp!ng levels is called Zen. It’s different from all the rest because it’s endless and there are no hazards to run into. You’re dropped into an infinitely large space populated with anchors and jewels. You can happily swing from one anchor to the next, collecting jewels to your heart’s content.
It’s relaxing and fun at the same time. At least for a while.
Plus, the Zen level also can be good practice. It can, for example, give you experience moving upward without the challenge of your character running into a hazard while you’re mastering the game’s mechanics.
4. Sp!ng is very quick to play
Another feature of a good casual game is that it’s quick to play. Each level of Sp!ng takes maybe a minute to go through. More or less — sometimes much less if you run into some spikes.
That’s the right amount of time to get you through a commercial break in the TV show you’re watching. Or you can play the game while you’re stuck in line at the store.
Just don’t think you’ll quickly be finished with the whole game. By my count, SMG Studio created 360 levels to play through. Sp!ng will keep you busy for a long time.
5. No irritating in-app purchases or ads
The drawback of too many casual games is they are offered “free,” which means they’re jammed with in-app purchases. Players are constantly bombarded with requests to pay real money for in-game jewels or coins that make the game more fun. Or, in some cases, the games require in-app purchases to make them playable.
That’s not true for Sp!ng. It’s part of Apple Arcade, so once you’ve put down your $4.99 per month for a subscription fee, you won’t have to worry about surprise costs.
Apple also bans intrusive tracking by apps that are part of its subscription gaming service. You might be shocked how many ways those “free” games track you.
6. Enjoy the artwork
Screenshot: SMG Studios
Be sure to look around when playing this game. SMG Studio clearly went to a lot of effort to make the backgrounds fun. The design reminds me of the backgrounds for the earliest Mario Kart versions. It’s got the same light, cartoony tone.
The look of the whole game is designed to be fun.
Don’t be confused by the Sp!ng launch trailer. SMB completely changed the design after the game’s debut. Everything still plays the same, though.
Play Sp!ng on Apple Arcade today
Sp!ng can be found in the Apple Arcade section of the App Store. There are versions for iPhone and iPad as well as Mac and Apple TV. It supports external game controllers, but you’re only going to need one button.
As noted, playing requires a subscription to Apple Arcade, which costs $4.99 per month. But that same fee also brings access to more than 200 other games. Some are available only on Apple Arcade; others are classics that have been around for a while.
