Goldrush: Mystic Mine, Skill Game of a Different Sort

Because mine cars generally accelerate downhill, the game levels in Mystic Mine are structured as such. The optical trickery reminds one of M. C. Escher: now matter where you are in the mine, you're always going downhill, so the car never needs an uphill boost.

Players can switch tracks at a designated keystroke so that up to six can use a single keyboard to race their mine cars through the mind-boggling labyrinth simultaneously. You can certainly play solo, but the real fun comes with multiple human competitors.

The game has up to 200 levels to master, each with countless bonus points, but also separate missions. You need to be the first to win a coin, then transport diamonds in certain tunnels or compete over flags. You can also steal from other players through collisions or dynamite their mine cars. Bonus points allow you to run your vehicle "uphill" only, others to pass through all obstacles such as ghosts.

Koonsolo Games markets its "refreshing" game as "family friendly" and released it in 32-bit and 64-bit Linux demo versions for free on their homepage, which includes a video to show its unique concept. The full game costs about $20 via online shops.

Virtually single-handed in its development is gamer Koen Witters, who also runs the company, founded in 2006 in Belgium. Mystic Mine is its first product.