Inner Tao

Inner Tao is a minimalist puzzle game in which you control both a yin and a yang ball that need to help each other.

An Inner Tao level consists of four elements: a yin and a yang ball you can control, yin and yang zones that make the floor of the level, orbs you can push, and marks on which the orbs need to be placed. Once every mark has an orb on it, the level is complete.
The complexity of Inner Tao comes from the movement restrictions affecting every element of the puzzles. Yin can only move through yang and vice versa. The type of the orbs is determined by the zone they are in; if an orb is in a yin zone (meaning it’s yang) and pushed in a yang zone, it switches from yang to yin.

The controllable balls can never switch type. Thus, orbs are more than your typical sokoban dead weights, they need to be cleverly used to navigate through the puzzles. The balls can enter an orb of the opposite type, allowing you to use orbs as bridges. A ball coming into contact with an orb of the same type will push it, but you can also push an orb that has a ball in it.

Confused? That’s nothing compared to actually playing the game. The thinking in Inner Tao is very counterintuitive, it takes quite some time to get used to it.
This is an extremely difficult game. There are only 36 small levels, but they are all designed to crush you (especially from level 20 onwards). It’s one of those games in which you clench your fists after each success, as if you just did something miraculous.
I’m forced to recognize the very good puzzle design, it’s absolutely undeniable a lot of care went into it. Lots of levels can be solved by pure thinking, deducing the critical step and how it needs to be set up often leads to victory.
However, the premise of the game is perhaps too convoluted. Some levels end up being a bit tedious and hardly solvable without trial and error, taking out a bit of the fun.

The name “Inner Tao” is absolutely perfect. The meditative part of this game comes from all the long sighs you’re letting out in front of these perplexing challenges. Your inner tao is truly unconsciously awakening.

Jokes aside, Inner Tao is a very good unique puzzle game that will seriously challenge anyone.
Highly recommended.

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Developers: Lucas Le Slo, Sergi Sabater
Publisher: Lucas Le Slo
Platforms: Steam, Itch – Windows
Release Date: April 12, 2021