Meteos (2005). Play online

Summary

Meteos turns a simple tile‑matching puzzle into a cosmic showdown. Meteor‑sized colored blocks rain down on the DS’s lower screen, and I use the stylus to group three or more of the same hue. Once linked, the cluster launches upward to become a tiny planet on the upper screen, clearing space and adding to my roster of alien worlds.

The game offers thirty‑two quirky alien avatars, each anchored to its own planet with a distinct gravitational pull that twists the way blocks fly. Modes range from the narrative‑driven Star Trip, to endless Deluge, time‑pressed Attack, and the rule‑bending Simple setting. Up to three friends can join via Download Play, turning head‑to‑head block battles into a noisy, colorful multiplayer scramble.

Critics loved Meteos for its sharp visuals, over‑the‑top soundtrack that changes per planet, and the depth hidden behind the simple premise. It hit number one on UK DS sales charts and earned an 88/100 Metacritic score, plus honors like GameSpy’s DS Puzzle Game of the Year and Nintendo Power’s Best Music award. Even today it feels fresh, proof that clever design can still launch us into the stars.

Storyline

In Meteos' story mode, known as Star Trip, the hostile planet Meteo hurls massive chunks of its own matter—called meteos—toward neighboring worlds, wiping out life and razing civilizations. After three of these meteos fuse and blast off into space, the affected planets unite and plot a retaliation.

The player commands the Metamo Ark, a warship forged from rare metean ore, hopping from one devastated planet to the next. Each mission branches, offering multiple routes and challenges that shape the narrative. The climax pits you against Meteo itself, where the fate of the galaxy hangs in the balance. A brief opening CG, added after a Famitsu interview, sets the tone and explains the conflict.