Viewfinder Reviews
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.
Viewfinder is a rare type of game that pops up with a concept and executes it magnificently from start to end. Though some will be disappointed by its length, it's undoubtedly a memorable experience and one I can wholeheartedly recommend.
At the price point, it is worth picking up, but if you have a tight wallet and want a game with a ton of hours of gameplay, then it is better to wait until it goes on sale. Unless you hate puzzle games, you will most likely enjoy this game and enjoy the variety of puzzles.
The core gameplay hook of shifting reality via photography is incredibly well implemented. This results in an incredibly fun experience from start to finish.
Solid first-person puzzler now making the jump to Nintendo Switch
The Nintendo Switch version runs fine enough, but can have a bit of a hard time with the framerate and loading of stages. For puzzle game die-hards, especially fans of Portal, The Talos Principle and Superliminal I'd recommend Viewfinder in a heartbeat. But if you're hoping to find something beyond that incredible viral video, I'm afraid that Viewfinder will not be able to change that perspective.
Viewfinder invents an entirely new kind of puzzle, then proceeds to flip it around and explore it from every possible angle. Despite a disappointing narrative, the creativity and character packed into that simulated world is inspirational and bloody good fun.
We definitely recommend it to all fans of inventive puzzles who do not need hardcore complexity and a powerful challenge for the brain. Connoisseurs of elegant level design - too. One of the most talked-about indie games of the summer of 2023 lives up to expectations, albeit not completely.
Review in Russian | Read full review
Viewfinder satisfied my recent puzzle curiosity and my search for new mechanics. Perfectly executed.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
An outstanding first-person puzzle experience that stands out
Viewfinder is a delightfully fresh and enjoyable puzzler. The unique photo dropping gimmick is implemented perfectly, and repeatedly built upon over the course of the campaign. Some elements outside of the gameplay could have used work, but this is still a solid debut effort.
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.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Viewfinder is a great debut for Sad Owl Studios. The game is visually appealing and has a cozy feeling to it, with innovative puzzles that are different than your usual puzzle game.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Mind-bending first-person puzzlers don't get much better than Viewfinder so play it if you enjoy games like Portal and Superliminal.
Viewfinder arrives on Nintendo Switch 1 (and in backwards compatibility on Nintendo Switch 2) in excellent shape and with very few technical glitches. An experience that, given its overall length and the time it takes to complete each level in a row (barring any temporary crashes), lends itself perfectly to the hit-and-run sessions that the Kyoto-based console guarantees. As for Sad Owl Studios' work, we're talking about a game with an intriguing, bizarre, and crazy concept, with gameplay focused on photography and the geometry of the bodies immortalized in the shots, offering a unique and constantly evolving platforming approach. On the other hand, the story does offer insights into an important theme, but it feels more like a side dish to the core gameplay. If you're looking for a title that will stimulate your brain just right, relying solely on your powers of observation and not on numbers or codes to enter, Viewfinder will certainly satisfy you in this regard.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Viewfinder es una de esas pequeñas joyas que a poco que te despistes puede pasar desapercibida, pero a la que sin duda vale la pena dar la oportunidad de sorprendernos y hacernos sentir parte de una experiencia mágica
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Viewfinder and its distinctive gameplay make it an excellent puzzle game for those unfamiliar with the genre and wishing to venture into these types of games. Traveling through the various interconnected photographs never gets old. Its pace of solutions is enjoyable, and the short campaign length, around four to five hours, works well. This way, dealing with dozens of unnecessary short sessions doesn't become tiresome, but the player also avoids situations with few challenges that are too difficult and could trap them in the same level for hours. It's clear that these concepts could be revisited in future projects that might be even more interesting, and I hope that will be the case.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Viewfinder is a simple puzzle game that wows thanks to a tremendous underpinning mechanic that makes getting around feel like genuine sorcery. Both the story and the storytelling are a little hit and miss, but there’s enough there to keep you engaged (but not enthralled) until the credits roll. It doesn’t showcase the kind of multiplicity that some other puzzle titles do, and rarely gets your brain out of second gear as a result, but none of that dampens the enjoyment of the experience one bit. Why? Because making photos real and moving through them is really bloody cool.
Viewfinder is a charming puzzle game with a ton of ideas and mechanics that have continually amazed me, especially since they're so flawlessly integrated into the flow of the game. No matter how many images you place in the world or how quickly you do it the game never stutters and everything fits seamlessly into the game world. While the story attempts to convey an important and ecological message, it ultimately serves only as a solid foundation for the wonderful gameplay mechanics and in the end I just wish the game had been a bit more expansive and complex.
Review in German | Read full review