Don’t step the white tile review: fast tapping, shark avoiding action

Don’t step the white tile may be missing a preposition, but what it’s not lacking is addictive gameplay. This quick, mini-game-esque iOS title has you furiously tapping away at the screen in timed events that will keep you saying “okay, just one more game” for hours.

The concept, although absurd, is simple. Don’t step on the white tiles. In Don’t step the white tile you will try to run from one safe zone to the next by solely tapping on the black tiles. If you accidentally tap on a white tile, you will fall through and are immediately devoured by a shark. As someone who saw Jaws a bit too early as a kid, this is a terrifying premise.

As you step from black tile to black tile, the rows of tiles also shift down, eliminating the previous row and displaying a new one up on top. This creates an ever shifting environment is the main cause of you missing the black tiles, and subsequently, is responsible for your consequential death.

There are three different ways to play Don’t step the white tile. The first is “Time Attack”, where you try to run from one safe point to the next as fast as you can.

Next is “Long Run”, where you only have ten seconds to get as far as you can. You gain an additional ten seconds every 50 steps you are able to complete, but with the game’s pacing you will need every nanosecond to make it to 50. My personal best is 329, just try and beat that. Pro tip: use both hands.

Finally we have the “Stopping Just” mode, where you run and try to stop just before the ten second mark. In this game there is a timer that counts down until it reaches the five second mark, where it disappears. If you make a step after the ten second mark, the shark eats you.

From a visual standpoint, this game is very dull. It uses a simple white and black scheme for everything except for the shark and your shoe, but seeing how the game was going for a simple concept, the colors (or lack thereof) worked. What was a bit disappointing was the lack of sound. There is no background music, no sound effects, nothing but the sound of your thumbs tapping the screen.

Overall Don’t step the white tile was a great game to just pick up and play. No story, no gimmicks, just sit down and play. And for that, I truly appreciated playing Don’t step the white tile. Its quick and addictive gameplay made up for its dull visuals and lack of sound. Check it out at the App Store.

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