Viewfinder

93%
Game Brain Score Based on 3,763 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • graphics
Viewfinder Game Cover
Sad Owl Studios has delivered a puzzling experience that's both instantly approachable and inventive enough to keep you guessing throughout. Viewfinder is simply wonderful – a breath of fresh air that shouldn't be ignored.
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"Viewfinder is a single-player Science Fiction Platformer game with an interesting plot, outstanding gameplay, and unique atmosphere. Using an instant camera, players can bring pictures to life and reshape the world in this mind-bending first-person adventure. The player-driven narrative and exploration of multiple hub worlds allow for a customizable experience, inviting both casual and dedicated players to find answers to the impossible."

  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Play​Station
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

93%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,763 reviews
gameplay680 positive mentions
grinding16 negative mentions
  • Unique and innovative puzzle mechanics that encourage creative problem-solving.
  • Beautiful visuals and a relaxing atmosphere that enhance the gameplay experience.
  • Engaging story elements that, while simple, add depth to the overall experience.
  • Short playtime, typically around 4-6 hours, which may not justify the full price for some players.
  • Puzzles are generally easy, lacking significant challenge for experienced players.
  • The dialogue and story elements can be annoying or feel disconnected from the gameplay.
  • gameplay1,589 mentions

    The gameplay of *Viewfinder* is characterized by its innovative mechanics centered around manipulating photographs to alter the environment, creating a unique and engaging puzzle experience. While the game introduces new mechanics frequently, many players feel that these are often underutilized, leading to a sense of missed potential as the puzzles tend to be relatively easy and short, averaging around 4-5 hours of playtime. Despite its brevity and simplicity, the game is praised for its creativity and visual appeal, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of puzzle games, particularly those who enjoy exploring new mechanics.

    • “The game’s core mechanic – taking photographs and using them to alter the environment – is brilliantly executed, providing endless 'a-ha!' moments as players reshape spaces and uncover hidden paths.”
    • “Viewfinder is a captivating puzzle game that merges reality-bending mechanics with a stunning visual style, reminiscent of games like Portal and The Witness.”
    • “The mechanics are clever and some puzzle solutions are jaw-dropping.”
    • “I'm left having finished the game, feeling incredibly underwhelmed after having been so excited by the premise of the gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay time itself is rather short and what is there gets a little repetitive throughout.”
    • “The puzzles are too simple and the game is too short, but the aesthetic and mechanics make up for it.”
  • story1,311 mentions

    The story in "Viewfinder" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it to be simplistic and lacking depth. While some appreciate its environmental themes and emotional undertones, others criticize it for being disjointed and overshadowed by the gameplay. Overall, the narrative is often seen as an afterthought, with players suggesting that the game would be better off focusing solely on its innovative puzzle mechanics rather than attempting to deliver a profound story.

    • “A story-heavy puzzle game, with a beautiful message about what makes our world so special.”
    • “Reminds me a lot of What Remains of Edith Finch, beautiful storytelling, incredible voice acting, and a gorgeous soundtrack.”
    • “The story is quite simple and compact but has so much to tell.”
    • “However, the game’s limited narrative depth might leave some players desiring more context and story.”
    • “It all feels like it doesn't matter, and the whole story was an afterthought.”
    • “The overall story is an environmental message that I find to be annoying and patronizing, and the details of the story also don't really make sense when you think about it.”
  • graphics333 mentions

    The graphics in the game are widely praised for their stunning beauty and unique art styles, creating a visually captivating experience that enhances gameplay. Many reviewers highlight the vibrant aesthetics and innovative use of perspective, which contribute to a relaxing and immersive atmosphere. While some mention that the graphics may not be demanding on hardware, they consistently note that the visuals are a standout feature, making the game a treat for the senses.

    • “The graphics are gorgeous.”
    • “Beautifully crafted, visually amazing, all the different art styles blend to create a world I have never experienced before.”
    • “The stunning graphics and art style create a mesmerizing world to explore, enhancing the overall experience.”
    • “Insulting easy puzzles and not much else to carry the game around - no good story, dialog, scale, progression... nothing really, except for probably graphics.”
    • “Don't expect the most modern of graphics, that's not the point.”
    • “A pity the development team did not elaborate more on the pictures with different pixel graphics.”
  • music156 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its calming and atmospheric qualities, enhancing the overall experience with a blend of ambient and melodic tracks that create a cozy vibe. While some reviewers found the soundtrack unremarkable or forgettable, many highlighted its ability to complement the visuals and gameplay, making it a perfect backdrop for puzzle-solving. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's relaxing and immersive atmosphere, with several players expressing a desire to add the soundtrack to their personal playlists.

    • “The soundtrack is mesmerizing, and the story is fun to discover.”
    • “The music is calming, the theme is soothing, and playing this game felt like meditating.”
    • “The game's soundtrack deserves special praise as it complements the visual experience perfectly.”
    • “The music was decent, but nothing too special, which is a shame because I think it would've helped a lot.”
    • “Music is very middle of the road and voice acting is often grating, but the sound effects/sound design is very fun.”
    • “No offense to the authors, but the music also does not surpass any expectations.”
  • emotional107 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game elicits a wide range of responses, with many players expressing deep emotional connections, particularly to the character of Cait, leading to moments of genuine sadness and tears. While some reviews criticize the story for lacking depth or being emotionally exploitative, others praise its heartwarming narrative and the way it engages players through environmental storytelling. Overall, the game is noted for its ability to evoke strong feelings, despite mixed opinions on the effectiveness of its emotional moments.

    • “The plot was touching and the gameplay was awesome!”
    • “This game made me cry.”
    • “The storyline of Viewfinder is both compelling and emotionally resonant.”
    • “Dialogues range from a boring story of dislikable characters to being overly praised for doing nothing.”
    • “Boring story.”
    • “Boring story.”
  • atmosphere91 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its calming, immersive qualities, featuring beautiful visuals, soothing music, and a serene vibe that enhances the overall experience. Many players appreciate the game's ability to evoke a sense of exploration and relaxation, although some critique the narrative elements for detracting from the atmospheric immersion. Overall, the game is recommended for its unique blend of innovative gameplay and enchanting environments.

    • “The game's controls are intuitive and the atmosphere as well as look and feel are very well fleshed-out.”
    • “The atmosphere is calming and zen-like, which makes the puzzle solving enjoyable.”
    • “The graphics are gorgeous, the world is stunningly designed, and very atmospheric.”
    • “It just isn't all that interesting and almost takes away from the atmosphere; I do not care for the techno-babble of some scientists, nor a disembodied cat asking my mute character philosophical questions they obviously have no answer to.”
    • “That said, unlike Portal, the story and atmosphere are not nearly as strong; the game really tries to have a narrative but sadly falls short, the audio logs and narration end up feeling like more of an annoyance than something that adds to the experience, tacked on after the fact to check a box.”
    • “I think this game actually could have a really cool and interesting atmosphere, but it's definitely ruined by the game's insistence that you invest in its awful storyline.”
  • humor38 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag, featuring a variety of funny achievements, quirky scenarios, and creative puzzles that often lead to unexpected comedic moments. While many players appreciate the whimsical elements and clever easter eggs, some criticize the voice acting and dialogue as overly obnoxious or unfunny, detracting from the overall experience. Despite these inconsistencies, the game's playful mechanics and humorous interactions contribute to its charm, making it enjoyable for those who appreciate its unique style.

    • “Besides the main story, there are a ton of funny achievements to unlock by doing certain unusual actions with your viewfinder powers.”
    • “Loads of funny scenarios in puzzles, creative achievements, and a cute cat.”
    • “The atmosphere, the storytelling, the sound design, the little details, and funny achievements... it's a masterpiece.”
    • “If you can handle the unfunny voiceover, I recommend this.”
    • “The jokes fall flat and often feel forced, making it hard to enjoy the game.”
    • “I expected a lot more laughs, but the humor just didn't land for me.”
  • replayability36 mentions

    The reviews indicate a mixed perception of replayability in the game, with many players noting that while it offers enjoyable puzzles and opportunities for exploration, its overall replay value is limited due to its short length and lack of varied content. Some players appreciate the potential for alternate solutions and collectible hunting, but overall, the consensus suggests that the game may not justify its price for those seeking extensive replayability.

    • “I've 100% completed Viewfinder; it's one of my new favorite games. It's not super long, but it has a pretty good amount of replayability.”
    • “A pretty short game, but the replayability seems pretty high as the solutions are always fun and interesting.”
    • “Viewfinder offers abundant opportunities for exploration and replayability.”
    • “The replayability is rather slim given the puzzles don't change; however, the addition of the community-made levels would truly make this game an all-time great puzzler.”
    • “Only issue is that it is not that replayable.”
    • “While a fairly good game that definitely shows passion, there is not enough content or replayability here to warrant the price tag.”
  • grinding21 mentions

    Overall, player feedback on grinding in the game is mixed. While some found the achievements enjoyable and the gameplay engaging without excessive repetition, others noted moments of tedium, particularly with puzzle reuse and narrative elements. The game's pacing and innovative mechanics helped mitigate grind for many, but those seeking longer, more traditional gameplay experiences may find it lacking.

    • “Nice atmosphere and great puzzles, hard but not tedious.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The voice records are tedious and contribute nothing to the plot.”
    • “Revisiting old levels is made a tedious task.”
  • stability17 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is generally praised, with most players reporting a smooth experience and minimal significant bugs. However, some users noted persistent audio glitches and a few buggy achievements, while others experienced occasional visual glitches during gameplay. Despite these issues, the game is considered polished and well-tested, particularly on platforms like Linux and Steam Deck.

    • “Runs great on Linux (Fedora Kinoite) through Proton.”
    • “Plus, it runs great on Steam Deck.”
    • “Everything is beautiful to look at, and I encountered no glitches throughout my 4 hours.”
    • “Another problem is that some of the (many) achievements are buggy.”
    • “The only downs I was having were the constant audio glitches and I was not able to hear a lot of conversations completely.”
    • “Most of the in-game time is spent in an incredibly buggy train cart thing and walking around the hub world to find actual fun gameplay.”
  • optimization14 mentions

    Overall, the game is praised for its strong optimization, running smoothly even at high settings on powerful hardware like a 3080 and the Steam Deck. While most players report seamless performance with no significant bugs or stutters, there are some concerns about performance dips towards the end of the game. The voice acting is generally well-received, particularly for the AI cat character, although the narrative itself has received mixed reviews.

    • “Runs smoothly at 4K on a 3080 machine, as well as my Steam Deck.”
    • “Performance on the game is superb, there is no stutter and the transitions are seamless!”
    • “Finally, the performance is not great.”
    • “Overall impressions & performance: (only performance chug is at the final part of the game)”
    • “Very well thought and optimized game.”
  • character development3 mentions

    Character development in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the wholesome and emotional dialogue, while others criticize the character design as subpar. Overall, it seems to lack depth, resulting in an average rating of 6/10.

    • “The character design is good, and the dialogue can be wholesome and saddening at points.”
    • “I played for 20 minutes and although I love the concept and find the art pretty, I was completely put off by possibly the worst character design I've ever come across.”
    • “Character development: 6/10”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The game is praised for its lack of microtransactions and modern monetization tactics, which many players find refreshing and a welcome change from typical gaming practices.

    • “It has no microtransactions and other annoying modern 'inventions'.”
    • “I have been waiting for this game for ages, and honestly, when I first saw it, I thought it was just another fake game from Facebook ads.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

81% average critic score

Buy Viewfinder

Play time

5hMedian play time
7hAverage play time
4-6hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 42 analyzed playthroughs

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