The Swapper

86%
Game Brain Score Based on 3,229 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • atmosphere
The Swapper Game Cover
The Swapper is one of the most unique and fun puzzle games to release in the last few years and is definitely not one to miss.
Starting at $2.24Buy now
Get on Steam

The Swapper is a narrative-driven puzzle game taking place in a desolate sci-fi world. Players use a device to clone themselves and swap consciousnesses, solving puzzles in fiendishly clever ways. Its unique claymation-style visuals and thoughtful story, told through the environment, create an unforgettable experience in English, French, German, and Spanish.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Linux
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 3
  • Play​station Vita
  • Wii
  • Wii U
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

86%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,229 reviews
story745 positive mentions
replayability13 negative mentions
  • The game features clever and challenging puzzles that require creative thinking and problem-solving skills.
  • The atmosphere is beautifully crafted, with a unique art style and an engaging soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
  • The story explores deep philosophical themes related to consciousness and identity, making it thought-provoking and memorable.
  • The game suffers from a significant mouse control issue on Windows, making it unplayable for many users without a workaround.
  • The narrative can feel vague and underdeveloped, leaving players with more questions than answers by the end.
  • The game is relatively short, with a playtime of around 4-6 hours, which may not justify the full price for some players.
  • story1,618 mentions

    The story of "The Swapper" is often described as intriguing and thought-provoking, exploring themes of consciousness, identity, and morality within a haunting sci-fi atmosphere. While some players found the narrative to be vague or convoluted, many appreciated its depth and the way it intertwines with the gameplay mechanics, revealing itself gradually through logs and environmental storytelling. Overall, the game is praised for its ability to provoke reflection and discussion, making it a compelling experience for those who enjoy narrative-driven puzzle games.

    • “The game is beautiful and the music is fitting for the 'space and all alone' theme, and the story is very deep and philosophical, making you want to find out more about what happened and what the aliens are.”
    • “Genuinely gripping existentialist-horror-puzzle game that not only manages to actually tell a compelling story but interweaves it completely with the core mechanics of the game.”
    • “The story is intriguing and told very well in a mix of cut scenes and found logs, which slowly allow you to piece together the backstory, as well as an in-game character, and the environment itself.”
    • “The story was a bit of a mixed bag.”
    • “The story picked up a bit towards the last 10 minutes, but ultimately I didn't really care for it.”
    • “The story is unfortunately vague, as it has to be given that it is told in a couple dozen logs and only a few more lines of dialogue.”
  • gameplay992 mentions

    The gameplay of "The Swapper" is characterized by its unique cloning and swapping mechanics, which allow players to create clones that mimic their movements and switch control between them to solve intricate puzzles. The puzzles are well-designed, gradually increasing in complexity and providing a satisfying challenge without becoming overly frustrating. While the core mechanics are simple, they are effectively utilized throughout the game, creating a deeply engaging experience that intertwines with the philosophical themes of the narrative.

    • “Just on the gameplay alone, The Swapper justifies itself as a fun and engaging puzzle game with a really impressive difficulty curve that always felt on-point through my entire experience, with every set of puzzles gradually growing more complex while teaching you how to better use the tools you always had available to solve new problems.”
    • “The game utilizes this unique mechanic to create numerous mind-boggling puzzles that are extremely satisfying to solve.”
    • “The puzzles are varied, and new mechanics keep being introduced to keep things fresh and interesting.”
    • “It's a shame, because the mechanics are clever, but from the very beginning of the game it's evident the designers have chosen to rely on frustrating, repetitive puzzle design.”
    • “While the puzzles get progressively more difficult and they are never unsolvable, they are also not very creative by any stretch of the imagination, mostly because the basic gameplay loop is always the same and never expands like in other puzzle games.”
    • “On the downside, the gameplay can feel a little monotonous towards the end as it's the same puzzle principle all the way through, even though the difficulty increases nicely to keep you on your toes.”
  • atmosphere905 mentions

    The atmosphere of "The Swapper" is widely praised for its immersive and haunting qualities, effectively combining eerie visuals, a minimalist yet impactful soundtrack, and a compelling narrative that evokes feelings of isolation and existential contemplation. Reviewers highlight the game's unique claymation art style and the way it enhances the overall experience, making it a standout title in the puzzle-platformer genre. Many agree that the atmospheric elements are integral to the gameplay, creating a captivating environment that draws players into its mysterious and philosophical themes.

    • “The atmosphere is phenomenal, the soundtrack is excellent, and the puzzles are reasonably complex.”
    • “The atmosphere is great and immersive, and the mystery around the derelict space station makes you want to find out more.”
    • “The atmosphere is haunting and the ambient sounds add to the lost in space feel.”
    • “The problems arise when the game starts throwing hard puzzles at you, which don't have any hinting or foreshadowing at how to solve them; you just have to sort of try everything until it clicks, meanwhile the story doesn't really ramp at all, things are still hazy as ever and the once lonesome isolated atmosphere turns into a bunch of barren empty environments.”
    • “The atmosphere tries its hardest to creep you out, but with no apparent threat to the player it has a hard time... maybe some rudimentary enemies that you have to distract with a clone would have gone a long way!”
    • “Although amazing on the whole, I have to say that the story of the game is sometimes hard to follow, and could've been a bit more fleshed out in general, although the game makes up for this with its atmosphere.”
  • graphics603 mentions

    The graphics of "The Swapper" are widely praised for their unique claymation aesthetic, which creates a haunting and immersive atmosphere that complements the game's philosophical narrative. Many reviewers highlight the stunning visuals and atmospheric sound design, noting how the handcrafted art style enhances the sense of isolation and mystery within the abandoned space station setting. While some players initially found the visuals off-putting, they often grew to appreciate the charm and depth of the game's artistic presentation.

    • “The graphics are absolutely brilliant, seriously, they are nothing short of amazing, second to none, and so on.”
    • “The visuals are stunning, and combined with interesting gameplay and mechanics makes an enjoyable 5-6 hour game.”
    • “The graphics are stunning as the game is made with clay models and different kinds of materials.”
    • “The clay aesthetics do not work for this type of science fiction, as the player character's movement looks wrong.”
    • “Visuals are serviceable, but nothing special.”
    • “The graphics are abysmal.”
  • music410 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric and haunting qualities, effectively enhancing the overall experience and complementing the game's themes of isolation and exploration in space. Many reviewers highlight the ambient soundtrack as a standout feature, noting its ability to create a deep, immersive atmosphere that draws players into the narrative and puzzles. While some mention that the music can be minimal or not particularly memorable, it is generally regarded as fitting and integral to the game's emotional impact.

    • “The atmosphere is phenomenal, the soundtrack is excellent, and the puzzles are reasonably complex.”
    • “The music is gorgeous, I love it, and overall it's just really solid.”
    • “The soundtrack is a true piece of art unto itself, weaving heart-wrenching piano and umbral ambiance into one of the swapper’s stronger assets.”
    • “The soundtrack could have been the defining feature in a game like this, but instead it was sadly forgettable - a non-factor.”
    • “The music is scarce, minimal, and very brooding.”
    • “Voice acting is cringeworthy, music barely creates any atmosphere and gameplay is what you'd expect from a flash game.”
  • replayability52 mentions

    Overall, the game exhibits low replayability typical of puzzle games, with many players noting that once the puzzles are solved, there is little incentive to replay. While some mention the existence of alternate endings and hidden achievements as potential reasons to revisit, the consensus is that the game is best enjoyed in a single playthrough, often lasting around 4-8 hours. Many reviewers suggest that the lack of replay value diminishes the overall experience, making it more suitable for a one-time play rather than repeated sessions.

    • “I finished the game in less than 2.5 hours, but replay value is there.”
    • “By the time it was over and I hadn't unlocked any of the Steam achievements, I realized the replayability factor this game has.”
    • “I personally found it replayable, since the game has 2 endings.”
    • “The only problem for me is what happens with every puzzle game; after you beat the puzzle, the replayability is really low.”
    • “The only downside is there isn’t much replay value, to me at least, despite there being an alternate ending, which you need to start a new playthrough if you want to see it.”
    • “Unfortunately, the game lacks any real replayability, so going back to find the secrets is an exercise in tedium.”
  • emotional35 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with many players noting its profound and touching story that resonates deeply, often leaving them stunned or in tears. The integration of gameplay with a compelling narrative, alongside a haunting soundtrack, enhances the emotional weight of the experience, making it comparable to great works of cinema and literature. Overall, players find the game to be a powerful exploration of themes like life, morality, and existence, resulting in a memorable and impactful journey.

    • “However, the biggest pull of this game is the profoundly deep and emotional story found within the sci-fi puzzle game.”
    • “An absolutely stunning experience; I don't think I've ever been so emotionally affected by a computer game.”
    • “After finishing, I must say that it turned out to be one of the most emotionally and psychologically striking games I've ever come across.”
  • grinding23 mentions

    Reviews on the aspect of "grinding" highlight a mixed experience; while some players appreciate the metroidvania elements that alleviate tedium, others find the puzzles and backtracking to be frustratingly repetitive and time-consuming. Many note that certain puzzles can feel tedious, disrupting the flow of the game and detracting from the overall enjoyment, despite the intriguing story and atmosphere. Overall, the grinding aspect is seen as a double-edged sword, with some players enjoying the challenge while others feel it detracts from the experience.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Too tedious, totally disrupted the story flow for me; a shame because the story is great too.”
    • “Its really beautiful game but after a point it contains lots of grinding with boring puzzles.”
  • humor15 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as a mix of irony and dark comedy, with some players finding it reminiscent of titles like Portal, though lacking its lightheartedness. While some appreciate the clever and funny mechanics, others feel that the humor can be inconsistent or overshadowed by the challenging gameplay. Overall, the game elicits chuckles through its quirky puzzles and character interactions, but opinions vary on its effectiveness in maintaining a humorous atmosphere throughout.

    • “If you disagree with me, then don't play the game or you will contradict me in the end, hilariously ironic, just like this game.”
    • “A great game with typical puzzles, but with funny mechanics.”
    • “Funny game - I love it.”
  • stability10 mentions

    The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting significant bugs, particularly with mouse and controller functionality, as well as issues with loading on certain systems. However, others have experienced a smooth and bug-free experience, especially on Linux, indicating that stability may vary widely depending on the platform and individual user circumstances. Overall, while some users faced challenges, others found the game to run well without any issues.

    • “I didn't come across any bugs when I played, so I'm going to say 'bug free'.”
    • “No glitches or bugs encountered.”
    • “Runs great on Linux.”
    • “The game is very buggy and the mouse never works.”
    • “A bit buggy at the start, and still had some issues with frame rate after some quick fixes.”
    • “It wouldn't load after multiple reinstalls and troubleshooting attempts on Windows 7 for me.”
  • optimization10 mentions

    The game's optimization varies significantly across platforms; while it runs smoothly on Linux and is fully optimized for Xbox 360 controllers, some users report severe performance issues such as frame drops and stuttering on specific screens. Overall, it appears to perform well on high-end systems, but optimization may be lacking for lower-end setups.

    • “Runs smoothly on Linux.”
    • “Excellent graphics, style, and game optimization.”
    • “Fully optimized for Xbox 360 controller.”
    • “Played on Linux; no obvious technical problems other than massive performance issues (framedrops, stuttering, etc.) on one screen, and it's a screen you traverse fairly quickly.”
    • “Performance note: doesn't seem to take too much to run the game, but I've only run it on my main gaming computer (high-end everything).”
    • “I ran this on a fairly powerful gaming laptop without any real performance issues; here are my specs for reference.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Character development is notably lacking, with many reviewers indicating that the story does not offer original or engaging arcs for the characters, resulting in unsatisfying endings. Overall, the focus seems to be elsewhere, as character growth is not a priority in the narrative.

    • “To be frank, you won't find much in the way of character development, but that isn't the point.”
    • “The story is not that original or surprising, nor are the endings very satisfying since there was little in the way of character development.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

87% average critic score

Buy The Swapper

Play time

6hMedian play time
7hAverage play time
5hMain story
6hCompletionist
5-8hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 28 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Similar Games

Game News