This games seems to have slipped through the cracks on here but it seems to be a hidden gem.
Release Date: July 18, 2023
Also On: PC
81
Metascore
22 reviews
Also On: PC
81
MetascoreGenerally Favorable Reviews
14 Positive Ratings77%
4 Mixed Ratings22%
0 Negative Ratings0%
Based on 18 Critic Reviews
Critic Reviews
100
Jul 17, 2023
"The inconspicuous title from Scottish Sad Owl Studios is not only one of the best narrative puzzlers ever, but also a dark horse in the race for Game of the Year title. Playing Viewfinder is a fun intellectual challenge and at the same time an artistic experience." ... Read full review
90
Jul 17, 2023
"The background music that plays in each of the hub worlds is jazz, and it’s just as intentional as any of the photographs. Jazz is filled with spontaneous moments of harmony, which turns out to be the main ingredient and lure of Viewfinder. This is a game that, as you retrace the steps of four disparate people who did their best to save humanity, lets you riff along the way." ... Read full review
90
Jul 17, 2023
"Despite an unsatisfying narrative, the bulk of Viewfinder is spent solving a variety of unique puzzles, and it's here where it never falters. The numerous ways in which Viewfinder manages to stretch its core idea consistently kept me entranced, providing a deeply satisfying loop of deciphering a conundrum and constructing a solution that could be distinct to my playthrough. Given how Viewfinder quickly empowers you with the tools to create your own solutions while challenging you to push your understanding of its world, it's pleasantly surprising how frictionless the entire experience is, never once devolving into tedium or frustration. Viewfinder finds elegance in simplicity but doesn't trade this for straightforward solutions, making it one of the best puzzle games you can play today." ... Read full review
90
Jul 17, 2023
"Viewfinder is both clever and fun throughout, delivering some of the best and most unique puzzles this side of The Witness. The story could be more engaging, and more content wouldn't hurt, but that doesn't stop Viewfinder from being one of the most ingenious games in quite a while." ... Read full review
85
Jul 17, 2023
"Viewfinder is one of those games that deserves to be highlighted for its simplicity and execution of ideas. A game with a simple narrative and creative puzzles that keep getting more and more interesting. All of this is accompanied by a relaxing soundtrack and beautiful graphics, in addition, of course, to the friendly CAIT that makes our journey through Viewfinder even more pleasant." ... Read full review
85
Jul 17, 2023
"From the first moment we take a photo and it magically becomes the stage in front of our eyes, until we roll the credits, Viewfinder is a title that constantly leaves us speechless, surprising us with new ideas and pulling out the odd one. smile with their smartest puzzles, and that's something not many games can say." ... Read full review
85
Easy Allies
Jul 17, 2023
"A stronger story may have elevated Viewfinder more, but that does little to detract from the mind-bending mechanics of its puzzles and the smooth construction of its design. Viewfinder strikes an excellent balance between providing puzzles with intentional, satisfying solutions while also giving players freedom to experiment and come up with their own ideas. Plus, once you’ve finished, it’s a joy to then watch someone else discover its wild and inventive mechanics." ... Read full review
85
Jul 17, 2023
"Not only is Viewfinder the best example of perspective-bending pageantry in video games yet, far exceeding its contemporaries that helped pave the path it walks, it’s arguably the most enjoyable puzzle game since Portal made us question a cake’s authenticity fifteen long years ago." ... Read full review
83
Game Informer
Jul 17, 2023
"The entirety of Viewfinder, including completing its optional puzzles, only takes a few hours, but its brevity is a strength. The game has no unnecessary fat where you use familiar solutions to solve slight variations of puzzles you’ve already completed. Every level feels like it is trying out a new idea based on the core concept making it a consistently novel experience throughout." ... Read full review
80
GameSpew
Jul 17, 2023
"If you’re a fan of first-person puzzle games, Viewfinder should be considered essential. Sure, its story leaves something to be desired, and some of its puzzles don’t quite hit the mark. But even the worst of the bunch keep you engaged enough to see this clever little puzzle game through to the end. Never outstaying its welcome, Viewfinder has left a lasting impression on us." ... Read full review
80
Jul 17, 2023
"Viewfinder is an incredibly interesting game with a mechanic that is very easy to pick up and highly enjoyable throughout the entire runtime. If you are looking for something truly difficult, you aren’t likely to find that here, but if you are interested in a short and comfy puzzle game, then Viewfinder will surely deliver." ... Read full review
80
Digital Spy
Jul 17, 2023
"While Viewfinder will leave you wanting more, it is one of the best and most unique in the genre to come out in some time, with gameplay that never gets old as it repeatedly finds ways to surprise and impress. Whether you're a casual puzzle player or have experience, Viewfinder deserves a spot in the photo album of must-play titles of the year." ... Read full review
80
Jul 17, 2023
"Some occasional frustration with mechanics and personal expectations not met aren’t enough to prevent Viewfinder from winding up an all-round terrific debut from Sad Owl Studios. Crafting a game that is confident not only in the ideas it wants to explore, but in the execution that underpins it all. An optional undercurrent of a narrative too that only elevates the appeal, but at the same time takes nothing away for those simply here to solve puzzles. Wherever your preferences lie, Viewfinder‘s knack for building out, subtracting from and even mixing up entirely the formula at just the right moments is a trait few puzzle games can lay claim to. Cleverly orchestrated from start to finish, Viewfinder‘s consistent originality and unmistakable confidence on top marks itself down as an easy recommendation." ... Read full review
80
Digital Trends
Jul 17, 2023
"Viewfinder is an ingenious puzzle game that wows at every turn, even if its sci-fi story stretches to find deeper meaning in its mind-bending photo hook." ... Read full review
70
Jul 18, 2023
"A highly imaginative puzzle game whose clever concepts are frequently used in the least appealing way possible – although they’re imaginative enough that the game remains engaging despite itself." ... Read full review
70
Jul 17, 2023
"Setting aside the narrative, which is pretty forgettable, this is a largely impressive, compelling puzzle game with a truly unique gameplay hook." ... Read full review
60
Jul 17, 2023
"Viewfinder is a short and sharp exploration of a strong concept that builds an unimposing space to play with those ideas, and fosters a mild, continual hum of gratification as you go on that journey. A pleasant exercise in gently massaging your brain synapses, it’s like a brisk refreshment that leaves you feeling slightly more satisfied when you’re done." ... Read full review
60
PlayStation LifeStyle
Jul 17, 2023
"It’s ironic that a game all about breathing life into pictures can’t breathe life into its own core mechanic. Witnessing a flat picture expand into something tangible or using photography to reposition the existing stage is a technical marvel that hardly goes beyond being just a visual spectacle. These systems deserve much more than that, but, like film lacking contrast, it’s underdeveloped and only a faint outline of what it should be." ... Read full review
© 2023 METACRITIC, A FANDOM COMPANY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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Release Date: July 18, 2023
Also On: PC
81
Metascore
22 reviews
Viewfinder (PS5)
Release Date: July 18, 2023Also On: PC
| Buy Now |
MetascoreGenerally Favorable Reviews
14 Positive Ratings77%
4 Mixed Ratings22%
0 Negative Ratings0%
Based on 18 Critic Reviews
Critic Reviews
100
Jul 17, 2023
"The inconspicuous title from Scottish Sad Owl Studios is not only one of the best narrative puzzlers ever, but also a dark horse in the race for Game of the Year title. Playing Viewfinder is a fun intellectual challenge and at the same time an artistic experience." ... Read full review
90
Jul 17, 2023
"The background music that plays in each of the hub worlds is jazz, and it’s just as intentional as any of the photographs. Jazz is filled with spontaneous moments of harmony, which turns out to be the main ingredient and lure of Viewfinder. This is a game that, as you retrace the steps of four disparate people who did their best to save humanity, lets you riff along the way." ... Read full review
90
Jul 17, 2023
"Despite an unsatisfying narrative, the bulk of Viewfinder is spent solving a variety of unique puzzles, and it's here where it never falters. The numerous ways in which Viewfinder manages to stretch its core idea consistently kept me entranced, providing a deeply satisfying loop of deciphering a conundrum and constructing a solution that could be distinct to my playthrough. Given how Viewfinder quickly empowers you with the tools to create your own solutions while challenging you to push your understanding of its world, it's pleasantly surprising how frictionless the entire experience is, never once devolving into tedium or frustration. Viewfinder finds elegance in simplicity but doesn't trade this for straightforward solutions, making it one of the best puzzle games you can play today." ... Read full review
90
Jul 17, 2023
"Viewfinder is both clever and fun throughout, delivering some of the best and most unique puzzles this side of The Witness. The story could be more engaging, and more content wouldn't hurt, but that doesn't stop Viewfinder from being one of the most ingenious games in quite a while." ... Read full review
85
Jul 17, 2023
"Viewfinder is one of those games that deserves to be highlighted for its simplicity and execution of ideas. A game with a simple narrative and creative puzzles that keep getting more and more interesting. All of this is accompanied by a relaxing soundtrack and beautiful graphics, in addition, of course, to the friendly CAIT that makes our journey through Viewfinder even more pleasant." ... Read full review
85
Jul 17, 2023
"From the first moment we take a photo and it magically becomes the stage in front of our eyes, until we roll the credits, Viewfinder is a title that constantly leaves us speechless, surprising us with new ideas and pulling out the odd one. smile with their smartest puzzles, and that's something not many games can say." ... Read full review
85
Easy Allies
Jul 17, 2023
"A stronger story may have elevated Viewfinder more, but that does little to detract from the mind-bending mechanics of its puzzles and the smooth construction of its design. Viewfinder strikes an excellent balance between providing puzzles with intentional, satisfying solutions while also giving players freedom to experiment and come up with their own ideas. Plus, once you’ve finished, it’s a joy to then watch someone else discover its wild and inventive mechanics." ... Read full review
85
Jul 17, 2023
"Not only is Viewfinder the best example of perspective-bending pageantry in video games yet, far exceeding its contemporaries that helped pave the path it walks, it’s arguably the most enjoyable puzzle game since Portal made us question a cake’s authenticity fifteen long years ago." ... Read full review
83
Game Informer
Jul 17, 2023
"The entirety of Viewfinder, including completing its optional puzzles, only takes a few hours, but its brevity is a strength. The game has no unnecessary fat where you use familiar solutions to solve slight variations of puzzles you’ve already completed. Every level feels like it is trying out a new idea based on the core concept making it a consistently novel experience throughout." ... Read full review
80
GameSpew
Jul 17, 2023
"If you’re a fan of first-person puzzle games, Viewfinder should be considered essential. Sure, its story leaves something to be desired, and some of its puzzles don’t quite hit the mark. But even the worst of the bunch keep you engaged enough to see this clever little puzzle game through to the end. Never outstaying its welcome, Viewfinder has left a lasting impression on us." ... Read full review
80
Jul 17, 2023
"Viewfinder is an incredibly interesting game with a mechanic that is very easy to pick up and highly enjoyable throughout the entire runtime. If you are looking for something truly difficult, you aren’t likely to find that here, but if you are interested in a short and comfy puzzle game, then Viewfinder will surely deliver." ... Read full review
80
Digital Spy
Jul 17, 2023
"While Viewfinder will leave you wanting more, it is one of the best and most unique in the genre to come out in some time, with gameplay that never gets old as it repeatedly finds ways to surprise and impress. Whether you're a casual puzzle player or have experience, Viewfinder deserves a spot in the photo album of must-play titles of the year." ... Read full review
80
Jul 17, 2023
"Some occasional frustration with mechanics and personal expectations not met aren’t enough to prevent Viewfinder from winding up an all-round terrific debut from Sad Owl Studios. Crafting a game that is confident not only in the ideas it wants to explore, but in the execution that underpins it all. An optional undercurrent of a narrative too that only elevates the appeal, but at the same time takes nothing away for those simply here to solve puzzles. Wherever your preferences lie, Viewfinder‘s knack for building out, subtracting from and even mixing up entirely the formula at just the right moments is a trait few puzzle games can lay claim to. Cleverly orchestrated from start to finish, Viewfinder‘s consistent originality and unmistakable confidence on top marks itself down as an easy recommendation." ... Read full review
80
Digital Trends
Jul 17, 2023
"Viewfinder is an ingenious puzzle game that wows at every turn, even if its sci-fi story stretches to find deeper meaning in its mind-bending photo hook." ... Read full review
70
Jul 18, 2023
"A highly imaginative puzzle game whose clever concepts are frequently used in the least appealing way possible – although they’re imaginative enough that the game remains engaging despite itself." ... Read full review
70
Jul 17, 2023
"Setting aside the narrative, which is pretty forgettable, this is a largely impressive, compelling puzzle game with a truly unique gameplay hook." ... Read full review
60
Jul 17, 2023
"Viewfinder is a short and sharp exploration of a strong concept that builds an unimposing space to play with those ideas, and fosters a mild, continual hum of gratification as you go on that journey. A pleasant exercise in gently massaging your brain synapses, it’s like a brisk refreshment that leaves you feeling slightly more satisfied when you’re done." ... Read full review
60
PlayStation LifeStyle
Jul 17, 2023
"It’s ironic that a game all about breathing life into pictures can’t breathe life into its own core mechanic. Witnessing a flat picture expand into something tangible or using photography to reposition the existing stage is a technical marvel that hardly goes beyond being just a visual spectacle. These systems deserve much more than that, but, like film lacking contrast, it’s underdeveloped and only a faint outline of what it should be." ... Read full review
© 2023 METACRITIC, A FANDOM COMPANY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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Do Not Sell My Personal Information
See Full Site
