Every once in awhile, I like to take a break from RPGs and action games, and just play something simple and relaxing. And one of my favorite types of games to turn to in those times, is Picross puzzles. Filling in pixelated images just based on number clues can be soothing, but it usually doesn’t teach me anything–but there are exceptions to every rule. Which brings us to today’s word.

luculia, noun – a flowering shrub related to the gardenia

Learned from: Picross S4 (Nintendo Switch)

Developed by Jupiter

Published by Nintendo (2020)

Picross puzzles are laid out on a grid with a number or numbers written next to each row and column. Each number tells you how many squares on the line are filled in, and if there are multiple numbers per line, that means there’s a least one blank square between each of them. When you’re done, you’ll have a rudimentary image of something like a car, or a lamppost, or in this case, a luculia shrub. If the puzzle doesn’t include colored squares, the flowers you’re supposed to see might look more like a pile of trash, even if you squint, but the process of solving it can still be fun.