How did you choose the color palettes?

We selected and tested palettes where all nine colors are distinct enough to prevent errors but soft enough to look beautiful and harmonious together.

Does the game use haptics?

Yes, it uses custom, subtle iOS haptic feedback to make selecting and placing colors feel tactile and physically satisfying.

Designing Color Queens: A Visual Sudoku

Behind the scenes of designing Color Queens. How we selected color palettes, created custom haptics, and kept the interface fully minimalist.

Designing a game that replaces numbers with colors sounds simple, but it presented unique UX and design challenges. Here is how we built Color Queens.

The science of color selection

A standard Sudoku board has 9 columns, 9 rows, and 9 boxes, requiring 9 distinct identifiers. Selecting 9 colors that are distinct enough to be recognized at a glance, even on small screens, while still looking visually harmonious and elegant together was incredibly challenging. We spent weeks testing palettes, adjusting hues and values to find the perfect balance.

Designing tactile haptics

One thing we miss about physical puzzles is the tactile feedback. To replicate this on iPhone, we spent time tuning the iOS Taptic Engine. Placing a color block, selecting colors, or clearing a cell all produce distinct, micro-vibrations that make the digital game feel real and satisfying.

Keeping it minimal

Like StrictBlock and MedCalendar, Color Queens has no unnecessary buttons, complex menus, or social integrations. The focus is entirely on the board and the colors.

Experience the details. Color Queens combines minimalist visual design with premium haptics on iPhone.Explore Color Queens

Questions

How did you choose the color palettes?: We selected and tested palettes where all nine colors are distinct enough to prevent errors but soft enough to look beautiful and harmonious together.
Does the game use haptics?: Yes, it uses custom, subtle iOS haptic feedback to make selecting and placing colors feel tactile and physically satisfying.