Viewfinder 1.0

3D perspective-based puzzle platformer

Viewfinder is a premium puzzle title from Sad Owl Studios and Thunderful Publishing. This is not your standard platforming game; you will need to get creative in addressing obstacles. Armed with an instant camera, you take shots of the environment and project those images in front of you. You can rotate images and use them to create new pathways.

The use of varied art styles and the limitless possibilities for gameplay make Viewfinder an enjoyable game that will keep you hooked for hours. It’s a unique puzzle experience in the same vein as Superliminal, Portal 2, or The Stanley Parable.

Challenge your perception

The first thing to note about Viewfinder is its unique premise. By taking photos of sceneries and superimposing them on your current perspective, you can create new paths to walk on. For example, a sideways shot of a building can be rotated and used as a ramp to reach a new platform. Armed with an instant camera, you are free to take shots and rotate them as you see fit.

As a non-linear game that depends on the player’s perspective, expect the game to be rendered fully in 3D. It uses a wide range of art styles, making it infinitely enjoyable. You have classic-looking images rendered in black and white as well as some scenarios that look surreal. Combined together, these wildly different visuals make for an immersive and challenging experience.

Although it does have an amazing premise and gameplay concept, this is not maintained all throughout the game. Some puzzles are straightforward while others are more challenging, most of which offer multiple solutions. Perhaps the only catch in this game is that the storytelling appears to be all over the place, ending with a couple of questions for the player.

A refreshing platformer experience

For fans of platforming games that require puzzle-solving elements, Viewfinder is a great entry to check out. It comes in with its unique take on the puzzle genre, requiring the player to be both perceptive and creative. By allowing the puzzles to be solved in any variety of ways, and combining this gameplay variety with an equally diverse visual design, you have something enjoyable for hours.