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Shifter

65%Game Brain Score
gameplay, graphics
story
91% User Score Based on 22 reviews

Platforms

Mac OSMac OSPCPCWindowsWindows
Buy NowGet on Steam

About

Shifter is a minimalist and atmospheric puzzle experience that will challenge your spatial reasoning and problem-solving skills. In this unique puzzle-box adventure, you control a shifting square that moves continuously in a chosen direction until it hits an obstacle. Your goal? Find the perfect path to the exit. With 60 handcrafted levels spread across six distinct zones, Shifter introduces a va…

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Play Modes
Shifter screenshot

91%
Audience ScoreBased on 22 reviews
gameplay4 positive mentions
story1 negative mentions
  • The game features a variety of interesting and easy-to-understand mechanics across 60 handcrafted levels, providing a relaxing yet mentally engaging experience.
  • The minimalist aesthetic and calming soundtrack enhance the gameplay, allowing players to focus on solving puzzles without distractions.
  • Calculating solutions before executing them is satisfying, and the challenge of earning 3 stars adds depth to the gameplay.
  • The game lacks video options, which can result in parts of the game being cropped on higher resolution monitors.
  • Some animations and music loops are repetitive and can become annoying during retries, detracting from the overall experience.
  • The game is relatively brief, taking only about 27 minutes to complete, which may leave some players wanting more content.
  • gameplay
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay features 60 handcrafted levels across six colorful chapters, incorporating unique puzzle mechanics such as teleporters, shifting walls, and spikes that encourage strategic thinking. With straightforward mechanics and no time limits, players can enjoy a relaxing experience while tackling varying levels of difficulty. The minimalist aesthetics and immersive sound design further enhance the engaging gameplay.

    • “It features minimalist aesthetics, immersive sound design, unique puzzle mechanics (including teleporters, shifting walls, and spikes), 60 handcrafted levels spread across 6 colorful chapters (purple, light blue, dark blue, pink, green, and red), as well as 15 Steam achievements.”
    • “The core gameplay involves moving a square that only stops when it hits an obstacle.”
    • “Teleporters, shifting walls, and spikes introduce new challenges that add depth to the gameplay, requiring strategic thinking and experimentation.”
    • “The gameplay is straightforward, and while some levels are harder than others, the absence of time limits makes it accessible and easy to complete.”
  • graphics
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are praised for their minimalist aesthetic, which enhances focus on gameplay while providing a visually appealing experience. The vibrant colors across the six chapters and the overall design contribute to an immersive atmosphere, complemented by relaxing music and sound design. Players appreciate the combination of interesting mechanics and well-crafted levels, making the visuals an integral part of the game's charm.

    • “It features minimalist aesthetics, immersive sound design, unique puzzle mechanics (including teleporters, shifting walls, and spikes), 60 handcrafted levels spread across 6 colorful chapters (purple, light blue, dark blue, pink, green, and red), as well as 15 Steam achievements.”
    • “The minimalist aesthetic keeps distractions to a minimum, allowing players to focus on the puzzles.”
    • “Shifter is a nice puzzle game; I enjoyed the aesthetics and level designs.”
  • music
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is described as average and quickly looping, which can become repetitive during gameplay. However, it also features a relaxing soundtrack that contributes to a calming atmosphere, making it suitable for players who prefer a more laid-back experience while solving puzzles. Overall, the music is a mixed bag, with some finding it soothing and others feeling it detracts from the gameplay.

    • “It has a lot of different levels with a bunch of interesting yet easy to understand mechanics, pretty nice graphics, relaxing music.”
    • “The calming atmosphere, enhanced by a subtle soundtrack and the absence of timers, makes it a great choice for those who enjoy a relaxed approach to problem-solving.”
    • “Standard ice-physics puzzles from Zelda and Pokémon games with average, unchanging, quickly looping music and animations that take too long, so re-trying a solution while not doing that extra input for a 3-star gets annoying fast.”
  • atmosphere
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of 'shifter' is characterized by its minimalist design and calming ambiance, complemented by a subtle soundtrack and the absence of timers, creating a relaxed environment ideal for puzzle-solving. Players appreciate the tranquil setting that enhances the overall experience of navigating through intricate levels.

    • “The calming atmosphere, enhanced by a subtle soundtrack and the absence of timers, makes it a great choice for those who enjoy a relaxed approach to problem-solving.”
  • story
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story may disappoint players looking for fast-paced action or intricate narratives, as it does not cater to those expectations.

    • “However, those seeking fast-paced action or complex storytelling may not find what they are looking for in this game.”

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