Picross dev's puzzler Logiart Grimoire hits Steam early access next month
And it's coming to Switch in 2024.
Jupiter Corporation - the studio behind Nintendo's long-running Picross series - has unveiled a new Picross-style puzzler, Logiart Grimoire, which launches into Steam early access on 11th September and Switch sometime next year.
The Logiart Grimoire of the title is a magical book formerly used to solve Logiart mysteries before its power waned, and it comes into players' possession along with its custodian, a helpful wizard-y companion called Emil. That whole fanciful framing device is, of course, secondary to the real business at hand: solving 'picture logic puzzles' that feature horizontal and vertical rows of numbers used as hints to place dots on a grid and form illustrations.
If that sounds familiar, it's because Logiart Grimoire is essentially Picross in all but name (Nintendo owns the 'Picross' title, while Jupiter owns its systems), albeit with an added magic twist hooking into a new "fusion" system that challenges players to figure out how to combine materials gained through solving puzzles to unlock new ones.
When Logiart Grimoire launches into Steam early access on 11th September, it'll feature all its planned puzzles - 280 in total, split into grid sizes of 5×5, 10×10, 15×15, 20×15, 30×30, and 40×30 - but Jupiter says it'll be using feedback from players to "actively work on improving the difficult and lacking parts of the game". In particular, it wants to ensure Fusions - which involve deducing combinations of materials from sentences - are not "unsolvable" problems, while making other "enhancements to create a better experience".
Logiart Grimoire is expected to be in Steam early access for around six months, during which time it'll gain a tutorial screen, collection screen, a finalised English translation, and finalised sound effects. Additionally, the initially predominantly mouse-only experience will recieve gamepad and expanded keyboard support.
Unfortunately, there's a bit of bad news for Steam Deck owners hankering for some Picross-style action on the go (or resolutely stationary in bed, if you're me); Jupiter says "playing comfortably" on Valve's handheld won't be possible initially, but that it'll "prioritise resolving this issue". Full Steam Deck compatibility will definitely be ready for Logiart Grimoire's 1.0 arrival next year, though, which will also bring a Switch release and price increase.