Linko is a simple iPhone app puzzle and a gateway to relaxation

Our iPhones are often sources of stress. That’s where the deadlines, emails, and notifications relentlessly vying for our attention all live, right? But it doesn’t have to be that way. Enter Linko, a refreshing wave of calm in a vast ocean of digital distractions. 

I’m a big fan of simple, soothing puzzle games – I recommended I Love Hue and Teeny Tiny Town last month, which both have a similar vibe – and that’s because I think we should make the most of the ways our iPhones can genuinely calm us down, not just stress us out. 

The premise of Linko is simple. The app presents you with nodes and lines on tiles. You need to rotate the tiles to link everything up – hence the name Linko.

The Linko app works with both the iPhone and the iPad. You’ll get the best experience on the bigger screen of the iPad, but I think it’s a good idea to keep it on hand and play on your iPhone whenever you’re waiting for something, on public transport, or just want to take time out.

What makes the Linko app relaxing? 

I’ve recommended a few puzzle apps over the past few months because they’re relaxing, and it got me wondering: what makes a puzzle app fun and calming to play? I think Linko is a great example. 

Firstly, it’s a simple premise. In the ‘Classic’ version of the game, you’re creating loops. Easy. Next up is design. The Linko app is achingly minimal. There’s an off-white background and black lines and nodes that turn orange when they connect. There are calming sounds that you can toggle on and off and a ‘Dark Mode’ if your eyes prefer the colors to be inverted. 

As well as the ‘Classic’ mode, there’s also a ‘Draw’ mode. It’s a similar concept; you’re still creating a line from A to B (or, in the first instance, 1 to 2), but you need to draw the line, hitting all of the circles in the game on the way rather than constructing it. 

There’s also a mode called ‘Tower’, which presents you with a whole stack of numbered circles, and you have to connect them 1 > 2 > 3 before the timer runs out. This is incredibly simple but highly addictive. 

Try Linko if you’re looking for a new puzzle game to pick up when you have a few spare minutes. Each level is short and sweet, and I like the fact it has several different modes to choose from and an incredibly sparse look and feel. 

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