Viewfinder

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."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

87%

Audience ScoreBased on 7,556 reviews

gameplay1,363 positive mentions

grinding32 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.

The game is relatively short, with many players completing it in under 5 hours.
Puzzles are often too easy, lacking the challenge that many puzzle enthusiasts seek.
The dialogue and story can be annoying or feel disconnected from the gameplay.

gameplay
3,187 mentions
43 % positive mentions
56 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
Viewfinder features innovative gameplay centered around a unique mechanic that allows players to manipulate the environment using photographs, creating engaging and mind-bending puzzles. While the game introduces new mechanics throughout, many players feel that these are often underutilized and that the puzzles themselves lack challenge, leading to a sense of missed potential. Overall, the gameplay is praised for its creativity and execution, but the short length and simplicity of the puzzles leave some players wanting more depth and complexity.
- “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 varied, and consistently impressive, creative and surprising.”
- “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.”
story
2,630 mentions
33 % positive mentions
59 % neutral mentions
7 % negative 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 as an afterthought that distracts from the gameplay, often conveyed through audio logs and notes that can be easily ignored. Overall, the narrative is seen as a secondary element to the innovative puzzle mechanics, with some players expressing a desire for a more cohesive and engaging storyline.
- “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.”
- “And even beyond the glaring holes in the story, the dialogue presents itself in such a way that none of the characters actually express their personality, it's largely just told to us third person, making it difficult to form any emotional attachment to any character at all.”
graphics
666 mentions
66 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The graphics in "Viewfinder" are widely praised for their stunning and diverse art styles, creating a visually captivating experience that enhances gameplay. Players appreciate the vibrant aesthetics and innovative use of perspective, which contribute to a relaxing and immersive atmosphere. While some note that the graphics may not be demanding on hardware, they are consistently described as beautiful and well-executed, 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 vibrant visuals and surreal aesthetics enhance the exploration, making it a treat for the senses.”
- “Insulting easy puzzles and not much else to carry the game around - no good story, dialog, scale, progression... nothing really, except for probably graphics.”
- “A pity the development team did not elaborate more on the pictures with different pixel graphics.”
- “Puzzles are too simple and the game is too short, but the aesthetic and mechanics make up for it.”
music
313 mentions
58 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
1 % negative 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 graphics are beautiful, 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.”
- “- music was very unremarkable.”
- “No offense to the authors, but the music also does not surpass any expectations.. can't say a no to a puzzle game, it's ok to try for 11 bucks I got it for.”
- “The music was decent, but nothing too special which is a shame because I think it would've helped a lot.”
emotional
215 mentions
97 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with many players expressing strong feelings, particularly towards the character Cait, leading to moments of genuine sadness and attachment. While some found the narrative touching and heartwarming, others criticized it for being emotionally exploitative or lacking depth, resulting in a disconnect from the characters. Overall, the game successfully evokes a range of emotions, from joy to heartbreak, particularly in its concluding 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 which range from a boring story of dislikable characters, to upsetting being overly praised for doing nothing.”
- “Boring story.”
- “Boring story.”
atmosphere
182 mentions
62 % positive mentions
37 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its calming, immersive qualities, featuring beautiful visuals, soothing music, and a cozy vibe that enhances the overall experience. Many players appreciate the game's ability to evoke a sense of serenity and exploration, although some critique the narrative elements that detract from the atmospheric immersion. Overall, the game is recommended for those seeking a relaxing and aesthetically pleasing puzzle experience.
- “The game's controls are intuitive and the atmosphere as well as look and feel are very well fleshed-out.”
- “Overall, this game features impressive visuals and a great, aesthetically pleasing story to tell, which effectively evokes a surreal atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere of the game is calming and zen-like, which makes the puzzle solving enjoyable.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
humor
76 mentions
97 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, featuring a variety of funny achievements, quirky scenarios, and creative puzzles that often elicit laughter. While many players appreciate the whimsical elements and unexpected comedic moments, the voice acting, particularly the main character's obnoxious delivery, has drawn significant criticism for detracting from the overall experience. Overall, the game is praised for its imaginative humor and engaging mechanics, despite some tonal inconsistencies and a few unfunny moments.
- “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.”
- “Amazing mechanics, many interesting puzzles, and funny easter eggs with famous paintings.”
- “If you can handle the unfunny voiceover, I recommend this.”
- “If you can handle the unfunny voiceover, I recommend this.”
replayability
72 mentions
19 % positive mentions
67 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
Overall, "Viewfinder" has mixed reviews regarding its replayability. While some players appreciate the fun and interesting puzzle solutions that encourage revisiting the game, many note that its short length and lack of significant content limit replay value. The game is best suited for those who enjoy solving puzzles again or hunting for achievements, but it may not satisfy players looking for extensive replay opportunities.
- “Such a brilliant replayable puzzle game.”
- “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 solver.”
- “Too short, sadly no real replay value; too many ideas with some being criminally under-used.”
- “While a fairly good game that definitely shows passion, there is not enough content or replayability here to warrant the price tag.”
grinding
42 mentions
5 % positive mentions
19 % neutral mentions
76 % negative mentions
Overall, players have mixed feelings about grinding in the game. While some found the achievements enjoyable and the gameplay engaging without excessive repetition, others criticized certain aspects as tedious, particularly in terms of puzzle reuse and narrative elements. The game is generally appreciated for its innovative mechanics and shorter levels, which help mitigate the potential for grindy gameplay.
- “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.”
stability
34 mentions
24 % positive mentions
6 % neutral mentions
71 % negative 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 issues with certain achievements, while a few visual glitches were mentioned at higher points in the game. Despite these minor setbacks, the game is considered polished and runs well on various platforms, including 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.”
optimization
28 mentions
43 % positive mentions
46 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its strong optimization, running smoothly on high-end systems like a 3080 and even on a Steam Deck, with minimal performance issues except for some chugging towards the end. Reviewers noted seamless transitions and a lack of bugs, contributing to a generally positive performance experience, rated around 8/10. However, some criticism was directed at the narrative and voice acting, which detracted from the overall enjoyment for a few players.
- “Very well thought and optimized game.”
- “Game definitely looks good, and is very well optimized.”
- “Performance on the game is superb, there is no stutter and the transitions are seamless!”
- “Finally, the performance is not great.”
- “The camera mechanic does very complex things I haven't seen in any other game, and despite this I did not experience any notable bugs and the performance remained smooth throughout.”
- “(only performance chug is at the final part of the game)”
character development
6 mentions
33 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
Character development in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players criticizing the character design as poor, while others appreciate the engaging dialogue that can evoke a range of emotions. Overall, the character development is rated around 6/10, indicating that while the concept and art are appealing, the execution in character design may detract from the experience.
- “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”
monetization
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative 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.
- “I have been waiting for this game for ages, and honestly, when I first saw it, I thought it was the normal fake game on Facebook ads.”
- “It has no microtransactions and other annoying modern 'inventions'.”