Sokobond
Express

Sokobond Express (2024) is a puzzle game where you build tracks for atoms to guide them in the right order to combine and create molecules. You plan a route for each atom so it can get close enough to attach to other atoms in the right order and create the structure of the required molecule. It's a simple concept, but as the molecules get larger the pathways and ordering increase in complexity, to create a deceptively fiendish yet still fun educational challenge.

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The concept is a mix of two earlier games by the same developers: Cosmic Express, where you create a train line to pick up passengers, and Sokobond, where you move an atom to create molecules. Here, you create a pathway on a grid which an atom then follows, attaching to other atoms it passes to make a molecule.

To create a bond with another atom, there must be enough space and enough electrons (which form the bond) available, so what starts as a simple task soon becomes much more difficult. Certain squares on the grid rotate the molecule, and carefully choosing the sequence of which atoms you connect to and when you rotate your molecule is essential. Once a molecule is complete, you get a fact about it, such as its use or the way it's created.

The result is a game that's not only a satisfying challenge but also a great way for children and adults alike to get to grips with the way molecules are made.

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Our examiner, Ben Kendall, first checked Sokobond Express 10 weeks ago. It was re-examined by Jo Robertson and updated 9 weeks ago.