Altar of Gems

Much in the same vein as Puzzle Fighter HD, Altar of Gems will have you matching up gems of the same color. That is where the similarities between the two games end. Altar doesn’t have nearly as many deep gameplay elements as Puzzle Fighter, but it still manages to offer a compelling competitive puzzle game experience.

In Altar of Gems, you’ll challenge up to three other players and match up gems, preventing them from reaching the top of the screen. As you match four same-color gems, you are given mana to add platforms to your opponents screen, increasing the opportunity for them to fail. Alternatively, you can choose to use that mana to reduce the number of platforms you have on your screen.

It’s pretty basic and probably a little too pricey at 400 Microsoft Points ($5), but as it stands, checking out the demo is a worthwhile affair.