Released in 1997, this educational game focuses on logic, reasoning, and strategy instead of math or spelling drills. Players navigate a factory overrun by Morty Maxwell, solving puzzles to reclaim control. The goal is to outsmart Morty by completing five distinct logic-based mini-games. Kids must use deduction, pattern recognition, and planning to succeed. It’s one of the most intellectually focused games in the Super Solvers series.

Developed by The Learning Company

The Learning Company was well known for combining fun and learning in PC games. Mission: T.H.I.N.K. followed successful titles like Midnight Rescue! and Treasure MathStorm!. Unlike earlier games, it featured fewer arcade elements and more strategic challenges. The educational emphasis shifted toward logical reasoning and abstract thinking. It was available on Windows and Macintosh platforms during the late 90s.

Story and Premise of the Game

Morty Maxwell, the Master of Mischief’s assistant, wants to seize the Shady Glen Game Factory. You play as the Super Solver, trying to stop him. The game mixes warehouse exploration with logic puzzle stations across different floors. Along the way, you meet Metal Minions and a robotic dog named Rusty. The mission is to complete puzzles, avoid traps, and restore order to the factory.

Exploring the Factory and Finding Clues

The factory is a multi-level space filled with locked doors, hidden items, and puzzle stations. Players collect items like compasses, wrenches, and boats to access new areas. Elevators, ladders, and conveyor belts connect different floors. Navigating this maze is part of the challenge and rewards exploration. Players must think carefully about what item to use and where to use it.

Avoiding Morty's Metal Minions

Metal Minions patrol the factory and try to stop your progress. If they catch you, you lose time or get knocked back. Players can collect magnets and toss them on ceilings to trap minions temporarily. Timing and awareness are key to avoiding setbacks. The minions add pressure and urgency between puzzle-solving sessions.

Logic Games That Drive the Mission

There are five puzzle types players must master to beat Morty. Each game appears at a unique station inside the factory. You choose the order and can revisit games at different difficulty levels. Solving puzzles earns coins, items, or access to new areas. Beating all five games is required to win.

Logic Links – Deductive Grid Puzzle

Logic Links presents a grid and a list of clues. You must place colored blocks based on those logical statements. Clues use terms like "next to," "not beside," or "above." Each puzzle has one correct arrangement that fits all the conditions. This mini-game builds deductive thinking and attention to detail.

Spinning Circles – Pattern Alignment Game

Spinning Circles involves gears that move together when turned. Players must align patterns or symbols across interconnected circles. Turning one gear affects others, creating a web of movement. The challenge lies in predicting how changes ripple across the system. Planning and trial-and-error lead to the correct configuration.

Code Cracker – Numerical Deduction Challenge

Code Cracker is similar to Mastermind. Players guess a number sequence and receive feedback about correct digits and positions. Each guess brings you closer to the answer. It's a great test of logic and pattern elimination. Precision and memory are crucial for cracking the code quickly.

Magic Squares – Math Logic Grid

Magic Squares require placing numbers in a grid so rows, columns, and diagonals add to the same total. These puzzles reinforce math fluency and sequencing. Players must balance multiple parts of the puzzle at once. Early levels are simple, but later puzzles grow complex. It’s great for reinforcing arithmetic in a logic-focused format.

Word Wonders – Vocabulary and Pattern Building

Word Wonders combines wordplay and logic. Players rearrange letters into words based on categories or spelling rules. Some levels involve sorting by syllables or prefixes. Others use letter grids to build themed word lists. This puzzle adds language learning to a logic-heavy game.

Recruiting Rusty the Robot Dog

Early in the game, players meet Rusty, a mechanical dog working for Morty. By solving a small puzzle or completing a task, you win him over. Once recruited, Rusty provides support and follows you through the factory. Though not central to puzzles, his presence helps narratively and visually. Kids enjoy the feeling of having an ally in the mission.

Progression and Winning the Game

After solving each puzzle type, the factory slowly returns to normal. Completing harder puzzle levels increases your score and final ranking. Eventually, you face Morty in a final challenge and restore order. The game encourages replay to improve times and logic mastery. You can approach the puzzles in different orders each playthrough.

Educational Focus and Skills Taught

Mission: T.H.I.N.K. teaches kids critical thinking through well-designed logic games. Skills include deduction, sequencing, visual memory, and problem-solving. The game builds patience and planning without feeling like schoolwork. It’s especially good for gifted students or those who enjoy brain teasers. Each puzzle type targets a different aspect of logical intelligence.

Modern Alternatives and Legacy

While there’s no official remake, many current games echo its structure. Brain-training apps like Lumosity use daily logic puzzles and memory games.

Puzzle apps like Logic Grid Puzzles or Sudoku variants capture similar mechanics. Narrative puzzle games like Professor Layton mix story with mental challenges. These modern tools carry on the learning goals of Mission: T.H.I.N.K.

Compatibility with Modern PCs

Mission: T.H.I.N.K. is a 16-bit program made for Windows 95 or older. Most modern systems won’t run it without a workaround. A virtual machine running Windows 95 or 98 is the best solution. Tools like WineVDM may also help on 64-bit systems. Once set up, the game runs well with mouse and keyboard controls.

Final Thoughts on Super Solvers Mission: T.H.I.N.K.

Mission: T.H.I.N.K. remains one of the smartest Super Solvers titles ever made. It pushed kids to think beyond memorization and calculation. The combination of free exploration and logic-based gameplay set it apart from other edutainment games. Even today, it serves as a model for teaching logic through gameplay. For fans of brainy retro games, this is a classic that deserves revisiting.

Super Solvers Mission: T.H.I.N.K is a game in the Super Solvers series that involves logic and puzzle solving. Morty Maxwell is up too his old tricks and is trying to take over the Shady Glen Game Factory and change it to his own Morty Maxwell Game Factory with the help of his Metal Minnions.

As the Super Solver, players must battle Morty Maxwell at five different strategy games. In order to win back the Game Factory, the Super Solver will recruit help from Rusty, a metal dog who originally was with Morty Maxwell. Players must travel through a warehouse and collect different items in order to play the game and solve puzzles. Some examples include wood, compasses, boats, shovels etc, The Metal Minnions can be avoided by throwing magnets on the ceiling to trap them.