Stretch & Match

A puzzle game built around rubber bands and a pinboard, like the ones from math class, with a timer added. Every level gives you a few colored bands and a faint outline on the board. Stretch each band over the right pins so it matches the shape. Drag a corner, pull it across the board and hook it on a pin. The band keeps its soft, stretchy feel the whole time, bending and tightening as you move it, and a light vibration lets you feel the tension as it gets longer. The first level walks you through the basics with a short guide, so there is nothing to read before you start. From there, the shapes slowly get bigger and the boards get busier. Early levels need one band and a few moves. Later ones put several bands on the same board, each with its own outline to fill. Bands can't cross each other or fold over themselves. When you drag a corner into another band, it stops right at the edge instead of passing through. This turns every board into a small planning problem: which band goes first, which pins to leave free, and which route keeps the others out of the way. A move that looks right at the start can block the last band later, so it often pays to look at the whole board before touching anything. Some pins are locked and can't hold a band at all. Others are shared, so two bands have to meet on the same point. The outlines also come in many forms, from simple triangles and squares to long, uneven shapes that stretch across most of the board. Every level has a time limit. Easier boards move quickly, while the harder ones give you more time to think things through. Finish each shape before the clock runs out to move on to the next one. If the time runs out, you can try the board again right away with a better plan. Levels are short and the rules are simple, so the game suits a few minutes on the bus as well as a longer session at home. The clean, colorful look keeps the board easy to read even when it gets crowded, and placing the last band on a difficult level is always satisfying.