Flarts sounds like it should be a game about flatulence. But once you get over the disappointment that it isn’t, and realize it’s actually about flying darts, you’re going to discover a slick mix of throwing and soaring that’s going to have you hooked.
The game sees you trying to hit pinatas with explosive, hand-delivered rockets. You drag back to throw one, then when it’s in the air you can tap the screen to guide it, Flappy Bird-style, through a variety of different obstacles.
Once you’ve cleared all the pinatas in a level, you need to throw a final dart to hit a big target. The closer you get your shot to the bullseye, the more coins you’re going to earn. It’s a simple concept, but in practice it can be pretty darn tricky.
Different levels have different win conditions. Some give you a limited number of darts to throw, others require you to score a minimum score if you want to move forwards. There are plenty of little fist-clenching moments of success here, from nailing a perfect long shot to that brief twinge of pleasure when your dart hits the center of the target.
Those rushes push you onwards to the next level. Nothing is ever super tough, and the game increases the challenge gradually so you never feel like you’re being asked to do something impossible.
There are plenty of levels to work your way through, and while things do get a bit samey, Flarts usually manages to pull you out of that slump with a new idea, a different kind of challenge, or a new backdrop to throw against.
Flarts is a wholesome, entertaining arcade game that walks the line between tough and simple with more than a little finesse. The little dopamine hits it offers up are well worth it, and while it might not last very long, you’re going to enjoy every second of it.