Cal & Bomba: Review of a Fun Puzzle Game

Among the many indie video game offerings, often based on Bejeweled clones – often appreciated – comes Cal & Bomba with a unique proposal that suits all ages. The title, developed by the Norwegian duo Filiokus, puts us in the shoes of two unlikely heroes: Cal, a gnome passionate about mathematics, and Bomba, a troll who loves to blow things up. Together they travel on a mobile cannon to face the fearsome Beholder, in an adventure that mixes logic, irony, and a lot of attention.

The game's structure is based on an idea as simple as it is effective: each level is a puzzle to be solved by pre-programming a sequence of actions. It's not about moving freely, but about planning every move before pressing “play” and observing the result. The gameplay unfolds on a grid where you can place tiles representing commands such as movement, waiting, explosion, potion use, and repetition. The goal is to eliminate all enemies in the fewest number of moves, exploiting their characteristics and the interactions between elements to generate spectacular chain reactions.

The difficulty curve is well-calibrated: it starts with an introductory prologue explaining the basic mechanics, then moves on to three thematic worlds, each consisting of 24 levels and a final boss. For more experienced players, a hard mode is available that adds further challenges and powered-up bosses. The game is not limited to proposing static puzzles but constantly evolves, introducing new tiles and enemies with increasingly complex behaviors, forcing the player to revise their strategies.

From a visual standpoint, Cal & Bomba adopts a cartoonish and colorful style, which blends well with the light tone of the narrative. Despite the mathematical theme, the game avoids any cold or technical aesthetic, preferring a lively and accessible fantasy world. This approach reflects the studio's philosophy, which aims to convey “matteglede” — the joy of calculation — through fun and creativity. The graphics are clean, legible, and functional, with fluid animations and character design that manages to be endearing without being trivial, despite their extreme simplicity.

The soundtrack discreetly accompanies the action, allowing for concentration, while the sound effects of explosions and tile interactions add a touch of satisfaction to every successful solution. The technical department is solid, with no obvious bugs or performance issues, and the interface is intuitive even for those not accustomed to programming-based games.
Cal & Bomba is available on Steam at a low price (around ten euros and is often on sale), and represents a recommended purchase for those looking for a cerebral yet accessible experience, capable of stimulating the mind without ever being frustrating.