Flow for iPhone and iPad review

By Leanna Lofte
last updated

Flow is a puzzle game for the iPhone and iPad where you have to connect matching colors with a pipe to create a flow. The catch is that these pipes will break if they cross or overlap, so you must find the perfect paths that allow all pipes to be created even though some of them will not be taking the shortest route.

So that's the objective of Flow: connect all the dots to create matching pairs and fill up the entire board. For most levels, filling up the board isn't an issue, but every once in awhile you'll encounter a level where it's possible to create all the pipes without using the entire board.

There are two different game modes: free play and time trial. In free play, you have as much time as you want for each level, but the goal is to complete each level in as few moves as possible. In time trial, your goal is to pass as many level as possible in 30 seconds, 1 minute, 2 minutes, or 4 minutes.

Flow comes with 5 different board sizes for iPhone: 5x5, 6x6, 7x7, 8x8, and 9x9. It also comes with 5 board sizes for the iPad: 10x10, 11x11, 12x12, 13x13, and 14x14. All off these board sizes include 30 levels, which means that Flow comes with a total of 300 levels for free.

The free version of Flow is ad supported, but if you purchase any level packs, each of which contain an addition 150 levels for $0.99, the ads will be removed. There is a total of three level packs available. Unfortunately, there isn't a discounted "all levels" pack available.

The good

  • Bright colors (others may view this as a con?)
  • Fun
  • Challenging
  • Addicting
  • Includes a lot of levels for free
  • Universal for iPhone and iPad

The bad

  • I've been told that the navigation icons are stolen from Windows Phone?
  • No in-app purchase that includes all purchases at a discount rate

The bottom line

Flow for iPhone and iPad is a really fun puzzle game for the iPhone and iPad. The goal is extremely easy to understand and the beginning levels do a great job of not being too difficult, but as you progress through the game, the levels become quite challenging, especially on the huge iPad levels.

Free - Download Now (opens in new tab)

Leanna Lofte
Leanna Lofte

Former app and photography editor at iMore, Leanna has since moved on to other endeavors. Mother, wife, mathamagician, even though she no longer writes for iMore you can still follow her on Twitter @llofte.

8 Comments
  • I started playing this app on my iPad last week. The first several levels are kind of boring but you learn the rules and basic strategies. The medium levels are quite fun and the hard levels look impossible but a fun challenge.
    Great game for the iPad.
  • I just started playing this today and it is a great game: fun and a good thinking challenge. Have only played this on my iPhone 4s because I don't have an iPad yet.
  • enjoying it right now. woooo!!
  • It's pretty fun I started on 8X8 cause that's the level my friend showed me it on but It is pretty hard to do 12X12 on the iPhone
  • I love the game on my Windows 8 Consumer Preview. Good to see it for iOS.
  • Thanks for the review and comments. Flow Free is now availble for Android. You can get it here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bigduckgames.flow
  • The navigation icons are not stolen from windows phone, per se. It is because this game was first seen on Windows 8 Consumer Preview and is now ported to iOS and Android, thus the metro-styled feel of the app. It's not a bad thing after all, is it?
  • This game is wonderful and I have just finished all 300 puzzles! I took screenshots of the solutions of all 14x14 puzzles, so if you are interested, just email me at jays.aus@gmail.com and I'll send them to you. :)