Given the sheer number of puzzle-oriented titles in the Switch eShop, even just the ones I’ve reviewed, it can all be a bit overwhelming. Since so many of them tend to fall into well-known camps and general styles, it has sometimes also been difficult to differentiate many of them in order to say which ones are more worthy than others. Then there are those that simply feel unique, offering up some combination of elements that still feel very puzzle-focused at the game’s core, but that then venture off into territory all their own. Despite whatever issues I may have ultimately had with Helix, there’s at least no question that it clearly manages to differentiate itself on multiple levels from the competition.

The first thing you’re likely to notice is both the game’s distinctive art style, and its very monochromatic look overall. In an eShop that can sometimes feel like it’s full of titles that all adhere to similar aesthetics and design choices, Helix clearly stands out. The next is that the game has quite a sense of mystery, giving you very little in the way of direction, and instead demanding that you follow your intuition more often than not in order to find your way. Thankfully you won’t be able to do too much wasted exploring before you’ll typically either find some new clue to the game’s bigger picture, or a puzzle to be solved. What’s nice is that you’ll go through very specific phases early on, taking on some new ability that you’ll usually learn about through simple observation or sometimes a little trial and error. Throw in a periodic opportunity to change lanes completely, and enjoy some old-school arcade action, and you can feel the care to try to keep you engaged as a player instead of being numbed by too many of the same beats being thrown at you endlessly.

That isn’t to say the game is perfect though, and the further you go along the more some cracks will likely begin to appear. The first is that the more abilities you take on, the more you’ll be expected to combine their use, and that can be a trial and error grind sometimes. The fact that at times it will feel like you’ve got a puzzle worked out but then fail, usually without any meaningful feedback to learn anything from, isn’t great, especially when there are times where ability use can feel a little glitchy, making you wonder whether the issue is your plan or the game’s execution. Given that I also had problems on occasion with depth perception in some areas, something that the game’s art and monochrome style simply make worse, and there can be hurdles thrown in your way that felt preventable. It’s still a standout title for many reasons, but be warned that it may test your patience more than it should.