OUT NOW: Masuku from Lowtek Games
Dundee-based Lowtek Games (aka Ally Low) has officially released his latest title, Masuku, on PC via Steam. A Nintendo Switch release is planned for later in the year.
The abstract strategy puzzle game, designed for 1–4, tasks players with placing, rotating, and flipping cards on a grid to select or cover up specific colours and symbols to meet shifting rules and scoring objectives.
It’s a beautifully simple mechanic, which over time, reveals a surprisingly subtle and deep puzzle, where thoughtful planning and logic pay dividends over time. It reminded me of the simple aesthetic and design of the NYT games line-up – in the best possible way.
https://youtu.be/10YuyHMXkUk?si=4QkGHc7wUglyF9te
From Game Jam Prototype to Digital Strategy
The core concept for Masuku originated during Global Game Jam 2026 under the theme “Mask”. Ally initially prototyped the mechanics using physical paper cut-outs, designing a game where players mask out shapes and colours to score points under a changing rule set. After testing a digital version within Illustrator, Ally pivoted the project into Unity.
In addition to local multi-player and solo challenge modes, the game features a daily challenge mode with global leaderboards, as well as distinct puzzle variants including:
- White Out: Place cards to eliminate every coloured circle except one from the board.
- Pure Blue: Cover up everything on the grid except the blue squares.
- No Overlap: Reach the target score of 50 points without overlapping any cards.
Built-In Accessibility and Dislectek Integration
Consistent with Lowtek Games’ focus on accessibility, Masuku includes comprehensive options for players with different . The game features light and dark display modes, customisable colour palettes for colour-blind players, and full text-to-speech support powered by Lowtek’s proprietary Dislectek plugin.
Founded in 2020, Lowtek Games has established a reputation for original, retro games and middleware that address dyslexia and accessibility hurdles. Lowtek’s previous titles include award-winning retro NES homebrew titles such as FLEA!, FLEA!2 and Tapeworm Disco Puzzle, as well as A Familiar Fairytale – an experiential project created to simulate the frustration of reading with dyslexia.
Dislectek, which allows developers to integrate dyslexia-focused text-to-speech tools into Unity projects with minimal setup, earned Lowtek Games the Best Tools and Tech award at the 2022 Scottish Games Awards.
Availability
Masuku is available now on PC via Steam at an RRP of £4.59, with a free daily challenge demo available to play directly in-browser on VIVERSE or via Steam.
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