Annalynn MD
You better wash your hands...
Developer: Cruise Elroy
Platforms: PC
First Release Date: April 1, 2025
Annalynn MD is a great new addition to the list of April Fools games that are actually entirely real. The original Annalynn is a great Pac-Man inspired platformer, and one that I would highly recommend. But Annalynn has found her new calling, leaving the platforming mines for the world of puzzles. Dr. Mario is the biggest inspiration in theming, of course, but Annalynn MD also fittingly takes after the puzzle game Pac-Attack. Like in that game, you have to deal with both heavier blocks (Cells) cleared by making a full line, as well as another block type (Germs) that get cleared by an item (Cures) that appears every few blocks. Managing both types of pieces and not letting them block each other off is the name of the game. The cures will drop directly down and clear all adjacent germs, including any same-color lines of germs that spread from there. The game takes place on one of the more elusive board shapes- the beloved cylinder! Germs can be set up in sprialing formations, and the pattern on the cells makes it easy to keep track of how many are in a line.
There's one more mechanic that can give you an edge- The meter on the left fills as you clear germs, and you'll get a Megacure when it's filled. It'll clear about half of your board when used- alternatively, you can press up and rotate to exchange your Megacure in for a large point bonus and half of your meter back. Now, in addition to regular "building too high up" hubris, you can also suffer from "trading in your only lifeline" hubris! It's great. Each of the game's difficulties can be beaten after 50 rounds, but even the earlier difficulties start giving you instant drop speed after a while. It's tough, and aiming for those point bonuses can be very enticing. I've only fully beaten the first two difficulties, so far, and I enjoy that each one gets increasingly intense music to go along with it. The whole soundtrack is great- I'm really endeared by the presence of two separate danger themes, one for when you're in a bit of trouble, and one for when you're actually doomed. The presentation in general is really nice, with colorful background patterns that change as you go further. Also, Annalynn is cute!
This game was such a lovely surprise. Seeing familiar puzzle mechanics put together in new ways is one of my favorite parts of the genre. I've got a long ways to go, but I feel like I'm learning. Both long chains of germs and making sure a cure clears as many different colors as possible seems to go a long way. Building cell clears into your combos can help, but can also leave you in dangerous situations with blocked off germs if you're not careful. It feels like there's a very high potential skill ceiling for combo building. Maybe I'll update this page more if I make some more headway into the higher difficulties. I haven't encountered it myself, but rumors tell of even greater challenges beyond Expert mode...
Thank you for reading!
