Shiftlings

About

Shiftlings is a comedy platformer game featuring local and online multi-player or single-player modes in split screen. Control two adorable alien janitors in 50 interplanetary puzzles, shift weight between them to avoid traps, and unlock secrets in high re-playability levels. Purchase includes a quirky Shiftlings Screen Saver.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Co-Op Team up with friends to complete levels or missions together
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

68%

Audience ScoreBased on 151 reviews

gameplay19 positive mentions

stability3 negative mentions

The game features clever puzzles that provide a good challenge, especially when played in co-op mode.
The visuals are colorful and vibrant, contributing to a fun and engaging atmosphere.
The unique mechanic of controlling two characters linked by a hose adds a humorous and original twist to the gameplay.

The controls can be clunky and unintuitive, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences, especially in single-player mode.
Many players reported issues with the multiplayer server being down, making it difficult to play with friends online.
The game can feel repetitive, with some puzzles requiring backtracking and leading to tedious gameplay.

gameplay
66 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
56%
15%
The gameplay of Shiftlings is characterized by its quirky co-op puzzle platforming mechanics, which involve unique character abilities and humorous elements aimed at a younger audience. While the core mechanics are innovative and the puzzles can be engaging, many players find the controls clunky and unintuitive, leading to frustration. Overall, the game offers a fun experience with a vibrant presentation, but its repetitive mechanics and juvenile humor may not appeal to all players.
- “There's a lot of good puzzle platformers on Steam, and you can be sure this game is among them, but what really sets it apart is the setting, humor, and crisp clean design of your two player characters and their unique mechanics which you'll use throughout the levels to navigate and solve whatever pressing issues need your special kind of ministrations.”
- “Easy to play platformer, easy to learn controls, challenging gameplay, simple to learn mechanics, overall a good time.”
- “Shiftlings boasts some masterful level design for puzzle-platforming fanatics, and its intuitive, hands-off way of teaching mechanics will come as a pleasant surprise for those unimpressed with modern games' tendency to overuse tutorials.”
- “Unpleasant controls, and annoying gameplay.”
- “It's unclear who the game is aimed at; adults won't enjoy the cartoony, childish humor, and children won't enjoy the gameplay.”
- “Worst execution of core gameplay mechanics ever.”
graphics
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
45%
10%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising their sharpness, vibrancy, and overall aesthetic appeal, contributing to a nostalgic and enjoyable atmosphere. However, some players criticize the repetitiveness of the visual design across levels and the lack of a coherent graphic language, which detracts from the overall experience. While the visuals are often described as beautiful and polished, the gameplay suffers due to the limited variety and depth in the graphical presentation.
- “Now the graphics are gorgeous and look great.”
- “Graphically it's crisp, bright and rather colorful.”
- “With outstanding graphics and cerebral humor, this new take on the classic sidescroller will keep you in stitches.”
- “The real problem with the game is the graphics.”
- “But the thing is that every 10 levels has the same graphics.”
- “The fact is the lack of this graphic language and the similarity between levels is why I stopped playing after just 14 levels.”
humor
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its humor, featuring witty puzzles, funny character dynamics, and engaging narration that enhances the cooperative experience. While some jokes may not resonate with all players, the quirky humor and charming graphics contribute to a lighthearted atmosphere, making it a fun choice for those who enjoy co-op gameplay. Overall, it successfully blends humor with gameplay mechanics, creating memorable moments, though communication between players is essential for maximizing enjoyment.
- “Great puzzle game with hilarious moments when playing together!”
- “It is a very funny cooperative game, with good mechanics, witty puzzles and a nice presentation.”
- “With outstanding graphics and cerebral humor, this new take on the classic sidescroller will keep you in stitches.”
story
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
72%
9%
The game's story is generally considered decent but unoriginal, with many reviewers noting that it follows familiar tropes and lacks depth. While there are some interesting elements, such as a meta-narrative and satirical aspects, the overall execution fails to engage players fully, and the absence of additional story-related DLCs has left the narrative feeling incomplete. Additionally, the commentary during gameplay can be both amusing and irritating, depending on the player's progress.
- “There's an interesting little meta story that goes along with your progression, allowing for an announcer to give commentary as you play through the levels. There are times that gets a bit irritating, particularly if you're struggling through a difficult section where there'll be a quick quip every time you make a mistake and die, but overall it's pleasant enough.”
- “I think of something like Braid where I played through it to beat the puzzles, figure out the story, and see what mechanic was coming next.”
- “There's Thomas Was Alone that tells a fantastic story.”
- “Sadly, the developers did not add any more story-related DLCs to the game to flush it out, like most developers do.”
- “There's some voice lines, but they didn't keep me invested in the story.”
- “The thing is, this isn't one of them that will put up there with the quest series.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game is described as sharp and colorful, contributing to a nostalgic and feel-good atmosphere that complements the appealing visuals effectively. Overall, the combination of music and graphics enhances the overall experience.
- “Sharp and colorful graphics and music provide a feel-good, almost nostalgic vibe.”
- “Alongside that, the visuals and music are appealing and fit very well.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The game offers limited replayability, primarily due to its design that allows players to revisit levels for missed collectibles, which may require some thought to obtain. While the game is of reasonable length for a single playthrough, this structure diminishes the incentive for multiple runs.
- “The game features three semi-hidden collections per level that you can revisit at any time to collect if you missed them on your first run-through. They are all findable, but some will require some brain-work to snag, adding a layer of challenge for those looking to replay.”
- “It's a fairly reasonable length game if you're only planning on a single run-through, but the option to go back and collect missed items enhances the replayability for completionists.”
- “The ability to return to levels and tackle challenges again provides a satisfying experience for players who enjoy exploring every aspect of the game.”
- “Limited replayability for time-attacks or item collection. There are 3 semi-hidden collections per level that you can go back to at any time and try to grab if you miss them on the first run-through. They are all findable, but some will require some brain-work to snag. It's a fairly reasonable length game if you're only planning on a single run-through.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The game is generally enjoyable for cooperative play, though users report occasional bugs and functionality issues. Despite these stability concerns, players find it to be a fun experience that provides entertainment.
- “The game has potential, but it suffers from frequent bugs that disrupt gameplay.”
- “I encountered several stability issues that made the experience frustrating at times.”
- “While the game is enjoyable, the occasional crashes and glitches really detract from the overall experience.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be repetitive and tedious, with a forced plot that detracts from the experience. Additionally, solo mode becomes increasingly frustrating in later levels, further diminishing enjoyment.
- “Grinding gets repetitive and tedious; the 'plot' feels forced, and solo mode becomes frustrating in the later levels.”
- “The grinding aspect feels like a chore rather than an engaging part of the game.”
- “After a while, the grind becomes monotonous, making it hard to stay invested in the game.”

64%Critics’ scoreBased on 14 critic reviews

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