Offering the perfect pick-up-and-play experience, puzzlers have always been right at home on the iOS.  Right in the middle of the ever-growing movement, zen titles have been picking up a fair amount of steam in recent years.  Because they’re generally light on hardcore gameplay and don’t call for serious hardware, these games are a great jumping-off platform for independent developers.  No title in recent memory has made this more clear than Sergey Mohov’s Dédale.

In Dédale, you are a beautiful butterfly.  Each stage is a pattern composed of a series of tiles, all of which you must land on without backtracking onto any tiles you’ve already touched.  If it sounds simple, that’s because it absolutely is.  That is, after all, the entire point of zen.

The actual playing of the game is no more complex than the concept.  Across the 105 stages, you’ll be challenged, but never frustrated.  Each level will make you think, but none can be described as difficult.  I was actually disappointed by this.  While a good zen title goes a long way to ease the stress of a long day, Dédale takes the relaxation a bit too far.  Most of the time, I didn’t feel like the game was engaging me, but merely shuttling me from the start of a level to the end.  No matter the type of game, the player should always feel something when it’s over, and Dédale just doesn’t have that facet.

Dédale’s most striking feature is its artistic atmosphere, which is truly the most relaxing of any title I’ve ever played.  From the graceful movements of the butterfly to the classical piano in the background, there’s nothing about the title that won’t put you at ease.  Even failing is a strangely mellow experience, as your butterfly silently floats off to pursue other endeavors.

And, really, that’s about it.  There isn’t much to say about Dédale because there isn’t much to Dédale.  The game doesn’t make for a very long review, but it certainly is unique.  If you’re a fan of casual gaming or you’re looking to add to your library, it’s a great option.

Dédale is available on the App Store now for $0.99.  However, for those of you who are wallet-conscious, we’ll be staging a giveaway later this week.  Keep an eye on IGM Mobile’s Facebook and Twitter pages for the codes!

In the meantime, you can learn more about Dédale on the game’s official website and follow Sergey Mohov on Twitter.