# Able Black — A story driven puzzle game

> Story-driven puzzle game about an android's quest for purpose and survival. (iPhone/iPad app by Scott Leach.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/able-black/id1085908608 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Scott Leach](https://appshunter.io/developer/1085908607)
- Category: Games, Books, Puzzle, Role Playing
- Price: Free
- Rating: 4.90/5 from 3,667 App Store ratings · 360 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 12+
- Requires: iOS 11.0 · 341 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2016-03-10
- Data updated: 2026-07-05
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/able-black/id1085908608/reviews.md

## What is Able Black?

Able Black is an immersive story experience that uses images and sound to guide you through a series of puzzles.

Story:
Able is a lonely android struggling with his Citizenship Exam, a test he must pass if he doesn’t want to be shut down. Follow Able as he searches for purpose and a way out of isolation. Discover the secrets of Ark 19, an underground habitat designed to save humanity from disaster. Find out why Able has been left alone in the ark. Uncover what’s hidden there. Take the Citizenship Exam and discover who Able Black really is.

Gameplay:
Navigate through five chapters of story text and experience the Citizenship Exam as Able does. After each chapter you’ll be faced with a series of questions that put you in the shoes of Able Black. Answer poetic riddles that echo the theme of each chapter. Solve cryptic puzzles to unlock Able’s story.

Able Black is part story, part game, and full of secrets.

This experience includes puzzles that some users may find challenging. If you need some help head to www.ableblack.com or visit the Able Black Facebook page www.facebook.com/AbleBlackSleepwalker

Follow me @skotleach

## Key features

- Immersive story experience
- Image and sound guided puzzles
- Citizenship Exam gameplay
- Poetic riddles
- Cryptic puzzle solving
- Five story chapters

## What do users think of Able Black?

Overall sentiment: positive

**Pros**

- 🌟 Immersive story
- 🧠 Challenging puzzles
- 🎨 Atmospheric design
- 🤖 Thought-provoking themes
- 🎁 Free to play

**Cons**

- 🕰️ Short gameplay length
- 📝 Occasional typos
- 🤔 Some puzzles too difficult

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Puzzle solutions not always registering correctly

**Most requested features**

- Longer story/more content
- Difficulty options for puzzles
- Ability to save progress

## Recent user reviews (10 of 360)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/able-black/id1085908608/reviews.md

### 5/5 — My only issue with the game is something people would see is a plus

*2026-05-05, version 4.0.1*

Hey, so this game wasn’t long, but it was surprisingly poignant.  The riddles are clever, but it was the storyline that really impressed me.  It was simple, yet somehow the emotions this game inspires are surprising in their depth.  

The soundtrack was unobtrusive but really added to the game’s overall feeling.

Now to my one issue:  I have NEVER, and I mean NEVER, paid money for an app (Side note:  This isn’t because I’m cheap, or don’t think that developers deserve it.  I just happen to be exceedingly broke).

But at the end of the game I was so impressed that I actually wanted to leave a tip, even if it was insignificant in its size.  I wanted to show my appreciation for this game.  I’m so grateful to people who create things like this, whether it is games, books, films, or really any form of art that can be shared with people in some way.

But when I tried to use the “Tip” button, both at the end of the game, AND when I actively sought it out from the menu, the button wouldn’t work.

Note: Everything else in this game worked flawlessly, so a part of me did wonder if this was another test from “Mother.”

Whew,  That was waaaaay longer than I thought it would be.  Thanks again for the great game.

### 5/5 — LOVE THIS GAME

*2025-09-09, version 4.0.1*

Thank you for this. I was immersed in the story - it was *magical*. Xoxo

### 5/5 — Free game, No ads, beautiful story

*2025-04-15, version 4.0.1*

I’ve been playing a lot of mediocre iPhone games before I stumbled on this. When I saw it was free to play, I expected a mess of ads. The dev mentions accepting tips at the very end, but that’s the closest it gets. The play experience is uninterrupted. Once I got to the end I felt more feelings that I have from most stories in a while. This is one of those games that you don’t want to look up answers, just risk it and take the puzzles as they come. So I bought the steam version to contribute in some way.

### 5/5 — Amazing!

*2024-08-09, version 4.0.1*

It is the perfect mix of philosophy, horror and puzzles! Absolutely amazing and I need more!!

### 4/5 — Enjoyed it but…

*2024-03-18, version 4.0.1*

The game is simple with a very intriguing story. I enjoyed playing. But it says it will reward you for making it through all of the puzzles without using any hints. I completed my first playthrough without using a single hint, but couldn’t figure out what the reward was. Eventually, I tried looking it up online and realized that the option that’s apparently supposed to unlock if you don’t use any hints still was not unlocked for me? I even tried playing the puzzles over again to see if that unlocked it, but it still didn’t work. I was really getting into the story and want to see what’s beyond this locked option, but can’t get it to unlock for me despite never having used a single hint.
I also wonder if the story is imcomplete. It just feels as though it drops off at a cliff hanger, leaving so much left to be told. I hope for more of this story in the future and maybe a fix for it not unlocking what it supposed to.

### 5/5 — Absolutely love this! However I haven’t finished it yet…

*2023-11-26, version 4.0.1*

It had me really excited in places where the puzzles were genuinely individual and interesting, reminds me of about a decade ago when I was playing games like The room, sword and sworcery and machinarium. I was looking for a new indie game to try and this really surprised me and I’m so glad I tried it. Honestly smth I would’ve expected to pay for, however I haven’t finished it yet so I’m not sure how long it’ll last
I hope it continues as good as it seems to far (time to start 3)

### 1/5 — Kept charging even when app deleted and subscription cancelled

*2023-10-29, version 4.0.1*

Not recommended to download this app they don’t reply to emails and you can’t mange subscription at all.  They’ll keep charging even after app is cancelled 😡 had to go to bank to dispute transactions!

### 5/5 — Great so far!!

*2023-10-22, version 4.0.1*

The game’s been amazing so far. It’s creative, has an interesting plot, phenomenal character development, puzzles that challenges you just the right amount, and is just overall a great game!

### 5/5 — One of a kind

*2023-10-19, version 4.0.1*

This game felt odd in the beginning and I’m glad I kept going. The story is captivating and after a second chapter I wanted to pause to dwell on it a little bit. It made me think about ethical issues, morals and how AI fits into our lives. It’s a great game with a sincere and touching story. Unforgettable really

### 5/5 — Thank you

*2023-07-09, version 4.0.1*

this just reminds me how amazing life is and makes me greatful not only that I wanted to start reading more to get smarter and this is a perfect start and the puzzles are so fun and amazing they fascínate me

## Frequently asked questions about Able Black

### What is Able Black?

Able Black is a story-driven puzzle game that immerses players in the narrative of Able, a lonely android struggling to pass his Citizenship Exam. The game uses images, sound, and a series of puzzles to guide the player through Able's journey to find purpose and uncover the secrets of Ark 19.

### How do you play Able Black?

Gameplay involves navigating through five chapters of story text and experiencing Able's Citizenship Exam. After each chapter, you'll answer poetic riddles and solve cryptic puzzles that are thematically linked to the chapter's content. Successfully solving these puzzles unlocks more of Able's story.

### Is Able Black free to play?

The application is free to download and play, but it does offer in-app purchases. This means you can enjoy the core experience without initial cost, with options to purchase additional content or features if desired.

### What platforms is Able Black available on?

Based on the provided information, Able Black is a mobile application. While specific operating systems are not detailed, it is designed for mobile devices.

### Where can I get help if I'm stuck on a puzzle?

If you find the puzzles challenging, you can seek assistance by visiting the official website at www.ableblack.com. Additionally, the Able Black Facebook page, www.facebook.com/AbleBlackSleepwalker, is available for support and community help.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 4.0.1 — 2021-01-07

* Resolved a bug that was preventing menu items from appearing as intended
* Fixed several typos

### 4.0 — 2020-12-09

**ABLE BACK Version 4.0**
* All new “Obedience Testing” gameplay mode added.
* 50% more story (4,400 words).
* New story elements reveal the origins of the character “Mother.”
* New game play mechanics for the agility training mini game, use the exhaust from your ship to destroy asteroids. 
* Various visual enhancements, typo corrections and bug fixes.

### 3.0 — 2016-07-07

Big Update... 
*New Agility Training mode added. Complete the experience to unlock an endless shooter mini game. 
*8 new easter eggs to unlock. Hidden among them are notes that reveal some of Able Black's backstory. 
*A new hint mode has been added. There's no more hard and easy mode. You can now get 5 hints per puzzle. If you can solve all the puzzles without using any hints you'll be rewarded. For those struggling with puzzles this makes things easier. 
*Lots of visual polish including sharper text.
*Bug and grammar fixes.

### 2.0 — 2016-04-28

HUGE 2.0 UPDATE:

- NEW puzzles/riddles... More than DOUBLE the number of puzzles.
- NEW and improved hints in Easy mode... Easy mode is easier.
- NEW "Test Results" mode provides a dynamic diagnosis after each section of the citizenship exam.
- The app will now run in the background. This means that when you leave the app and return you'll come back to the exact scene you left off on. 
- Minor bug fixes and typo corrections

***WARNING*** 
- This update will cause the game to start again from the beginning... Sorry for any inconvenience, but you'll need to start at the beginning to experience the new puzzles. 

Thanks so much for your feedback. I'm listening. Follow me @skotleach and let me know what you think.

### 1.0 — 2016-03-10

No release notes.

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-07-05.*