The Swapper

Interesting concept, fun puzzles, and neat graphics... but a default install of this game doesn't work properly when using the mouse, and the issue has existed for several years. Switching to the "compatibility" beta resolved the issue for me, but I can't recommend buying a game with an egregious issue like this on a default install.

"There's another mind here. It is living. What is living? A connection. The presence of knowledge. What is it for? To meet something greater? Will the mind learn something? It will decease to retain its identity, but it will learn Forever."

I can't believe this is getting updates again more than a decade after release, and is finally playable on steam deck. It's a perfect fit for handheld play on the deck. A legit indie gem that remains just as enjoyable now as when it was released. Challenging but fair puzzles. Chill, contemplative soundtrack. It's a bit like Portal meets 2001: A Space Odyssey, in claymation.

Seems broken at the moment. I recall playing this for a bit and not finishing, but coming back to it now there's a weird issue with my mouse cursor sticking so I can't select anything in the menu before getting into the game. The achievements/hidden terminals seem broken too, and cause the game to crash once you've found one. Good luck.

This game is a hidden gem that sadly never got the recognition that it deserves. Starting from the unusual and extremly creative claymation style, to the puzzle mechanics using clones and the philosophical plot (written by Tom Jubert, the writer of "The Talos Principle" - also a highly recommended piece of artistry) there is much to like here. The game explores its mature themes with a certain elegance, utilizes environmental storytelling and presents questions to think about. If you like puzzle games, getting this for a few bucks in a sale is a no brainer.

In 2013 this must have been revolutionary. In 2025 it feels like a lost gem. One of the best puzzle-platformers I've ever played, with extremely well thought-out puzzles tied together with a compelling story set in deep space. It's pretty much my ideal game then. The swapping device works delightfully well with simple controls, and follows a rigid set of rules that restrict its use, so you need to think about where and when to use it. It helps greatly that the environments look gorgeous, so when you get stuck you can unwind a little bit just by admiring how they managed to put this game together. Refreshed, you can try another strategy, as I had to do many times on the very last puzzle. There's an excellent map system to help you keep track of things, and navigation is a breeze, thanks to the many teleport devices you find. If you like computer terminals, you're in luck: this is the main method through which The Swapper conveys its story and lore. There's hidden stuff too - there must be loads of it, as I found precisely none even though I explored the station not in a rushed way. Don't skimp on your exploration, it probably pays dividends. It's pretty much a masterpiece, and shows 2D games made in a stylised rather than photorealistic manner can often be just as evocative as what the big companies put out, if not more. This is worth at least twice the money it goes for now.

Even if you watch walk-through for the orb puzzles as i did (honestly i wanted more of a narrative than a mind bender, the ending still surprised me as a mind bender... pretty damn cool