Scribblenauts is a 2009 puzzle game developed by 5th Cell for the Nintendo DS, centered on a character named Maxwell who must collect objects called Starites by solving a series of challenges. The core mechanic revolves around a text-input system: players type the name of virtually any object they can imagine, which then materializes in the game world and can be used to tackle the puzzle at hand. Because most challenges can be approached with a wide variety of objects, the same level often yields multiple distinct solutions. Controls are handled entirely through the DS stylus. The game's appeal lies in the breadth of its object vocabulary and the freedom it affords players to experiment, making lateral thinking as important as any traditional puzzle-solving skill.
