I ’ve played a lot of match - three puzzle games in my life . At this stage , it ’s very uncommon to find one that does anything new . They ’re all some version on the same theme , tasking player with matching standardized shapes to break down a well of sort . The nuances transfer , but the social system is hard to really shake up . I respect any secret plan that attempt to .
It was with that in intellect that I found myself drawn toSpirit Swap : Lofi measure to Match-3 To . On its surface , the new indie look fairly similar to any oldpuzzle game . It ’s a spin onPanel de Ponthat has players swapping piece in a slow building well to produce matches and build combos . What ’s so particular about that ? One word : dating .
In plus to being a traditional puzzler , Spirit Swapis a light visual novel too . It stars a witch named Sama whose job is to fight back isolated spirits that have wandered into their magic urban center . It ’s a simple story premise , but one that ’s rooted in musical style account . Plenty of puzzle game , likePuyo Puyo Puzzle Pop , have idle narrative backbones built to introduce the plot ’s cast of character . Spirit Swapjoins that corking lineage by weave a fib of magical existence and pouf love .
That last part is what makes Spirit Swap stand out . It ’s not just a puzzle game , but a dating sim too . In each mission , I ’m meet a hot new character that I can finally romance if I natter with them enough . My options range from chill hunks to mystical polycules . Each type has their own write up built through bond conversations and battles , lease the idea of a stock teaser story one stride further and adding smooch to the mix .
Whether or not that clicks with you will depend on your leeway for Tumblrcore writing . If that ’s not your bag , Spirit Swapcan be a morsel grate at times between its foresighted - twine flirtations and loading screams that tell you to drink water . Everything here feels designed to appeal to a specific variety of net - brained hearing , which does leave it feeling artistically exchangeable with cozy games that all pluck from the same aesthetic rulebook .
you could dismiss that if you desire and just focalise on the core puzzler game in Endless or Versus mode , which is as safe a way to play as any . The rudiments are promiscuous to apprehend . There ’s a well of shapes that lento rises and players need to make compeer by swap two piece that are next to one another . That ’s simple enough , but the twist come in from spells which trigger event when sure shapes patterns are create . For instance , if I manage to jibe four of the same piece into a box , I ’ll wipe the entire top half of the screen out . Another spell will knock out a full column and row if I make a cross form . My finish is to sour quickly , preserve my magic and pulling a go off when the pieces are throng up too eminent .
It ’s just enough to give a well - trodden pattern an extra boost . Versus conflict become especially tense , with spells in play , as a instrumentalist who preserves their energy can twist things around fast , produce more back and forth momentum burst . Even the short story mode get incredibly tough quickly , a fact that had me cranking the difficulty down by the end .
Spirit Swapisn’t thenext keen puzzle game , but it is n’t trying to be . It ’s a small labor of love that pays its regard toPanel de Ponwhile pepper in some chill beats and illumine informal plot maulers like house decorating . If all of this sounds up your back street , it in all probability will be . If it does n’t , I do n’t suppose you ’ll be deliver the goods over . It does n’t quite reach the same heights as other narrative - puzzle hybrids likeMurder By Numbers . Still , you have to let in that this is probable the only mystifier biz that let you unite a polycule . That enumerate for something , veracious ?
Spirit Swap : Lofi pulsation to Match-3 Tois out now on PC .
