Blendoku 2 by Lonely Few, recommended app for people living with dementia

Blendoku 2 by Lonely Few, recommended app for people living with dementia

Review

Blendoku is a beautiful minimalistic puzzle game based on the principles of colour theory. The game requires users to use knowledge of colour relationships in terms of hue, brightness and colour combinations in order to arrange tiles into the proper order and clear the board. Puzzles range from easy to complex based on pattern arrangements and colour contrasts between tiles.  

The app features simple interactive elements and a responsive interface. Users also have the option modify the control methods, choosing between a tapping method or a drag & drop method during gameplay. In addition to the simple layout with minimal distractions, the app features very soothing background music for users to enjoy while solving the puzzles. Users may access hints anytime during a puzzle by tapping the hint button (bottom right corner); however, there are limited daily hints for users to enjoy.

A few notable features of the app include the ability to turn on ‘Colourblind mode’, which allows the user to change the colour palette of the puzzle if they are having trouble distinguishing between similar tiles. Additionally, users have the option to further customize the game by choosing from 9 different languages. 

The free version of the app does not contain any adverts, which allows for users to enjoy the game without any distractions. In-app purchases allow users to purchase additional themed puzzles of various difficulties; however, these are not necessary to enjoy the game as the free version contains a wide selection of puzzles.  

Tip: In-App Purchases do require a password before completion, but they can be completely restricted on your device, if preferred. For information on how to do this for the iPad, read our step-by-step guide.

How to Navigate the App & Recommended Settings

To start a new puzzle game:

  • Select Play from the main menu screen

  • Select the difficulty level (Simple)

  • Select the individual puzzle you would like to play

    • Puzzles become more difficult in ascending order

  • Tap the coloured squares along the top of the screen (or drag & drop) them into the correct order on puzzle board

To start a new sensory play session:

  • Tap the purple exit buttons (bottom left hand corner square with horizontal arrow) until you arrive at the main menu screen

  • Tap the purple button with a paint brush to open a new design page

  • Swipe the screen to ‘paint’ with coloured tiles

    • Swipe with two (or more) fingers to paint with multiple colours at once

    • Double tap the screen to change the colour

    • Tap and hold the screen to increase the colour intensity

    • Leave the screen untouched for some period of time and watch the tiles dissipate!

  • Note: users cannot save any designs on the app. We recommend screenshotting the screen if users would like to save a specific design before it disappears.

Recommended Settings

From the puzzle menu screen, select the Settings icon (top left-hand wheel icon).

  • Background music (ON/OFF)

  • Sound effects (ON/OFF)

  • Animations (ON/OFF)

  • Colourblind mode (ON/OFF)

    • This allows users to change the colour palette within the specific puzzle if they are struggling to decide due to colour similarities

  • Game background & Game tiles

    • Users must earn the ability to change the game background and tile shapes as they complete puzzles. The default settings (Black background & square tiles) are appropriate, as they allow for a good contrast during gameplay.

  • Language (English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Russian, German, Korean, Chinese (traditional & simplified))