Viewfinder is a unique game from Sad Owl Studios and Thunderful Group that allows players to hop into a world of puzzles and reshape their own reality to solve them. Utilizing a camera, players will capture the surrounding scenery, only to bring it to life then and manipulate it, allowing for endless possibilities. Players will also have unique and fun collectibles to find as well as customizable filters to unlock, which all add to the charm of this artistic game.

Through Viewfinder's introduction, players will be taught how to use imagery to help them solve different puzzles. This includes using several mediums like paintings, sketches, drawings, and most importantly, pictures. Viewfinder is reminiscent of the groundbreaking puzzle game Portal in its use of physics and ability to create a solution where there isn't an obvious one; however, the similarities stop there, as Viewfinder stands entirely on its own with its fun graphic style and mechanics that take players on an aesthetic journey.

Story Takes A Backseat, But It Works

When first starting the game, it is clear that while there is a story to be followed through gameplay, this is more of a level-based game with a primary focus on just creating interesting and weird puzzles. Aside from the talking cat character, there really is no reason to dwell on any part of the storyline in particular. This is not a bad thing, as the levels themselves can more than carry Viewfinder with how interesting and immersive they are. Players are forced to create their own solutions to puzzles rather than find the one that the developers force on them, and even though there likely is an intended usage on each level, it never feels set in stone. This allows for not only more creative thinking and puzzle-solving skills, but just more overall enjoyment and freedom within Viewfinder's sand box.

Creativity That Raises The Bar

The puzzles of Viewfinder levels often consist of the player needing to make a path for themselves, which can be done either using different art pieces or creating new ones with the camera. Once something is held up and placed, it immediately goes from 2D to 3D and maintains the same art style. This means that players may enter anything from a watercolor painting to a children's crayon drawing, and the details in both will be astounding.

Not only are different art pieces in Viewfinder gorgeous, but they're used in interesting ways. Aside from being able to physically enter them, some of them are used in less obvious, but still intriguing, ways. For example, while completing one of the levels, players will use sound as part of finishing a puzzle. It's not thoroughly explained how to accomplish this, but one of the items in the room just so happens to be The Scream painting by Edvard Munch. When placed, it will literally begin to scream, emitting visible sound waves that serve as a clue for where this particular puzzle is headed.

Plenty More To Explore

While Viewfinder replayability is not 100% there, it's not non-existent either. Players do have the option of completing optional levels, so there is still plenty of content to go around after finishing the base game. Additionally, there are strange collectibles in every chapter of Viewfinder that many players may return to hoard as well. While puzzles will still ultimately be the same, players could return and challenge themselves to find new ways to unlock the same level, since there is not just one way to solve it. This introduces a level of replayability to even the most rigid elements of Viewfinder, and that, paired with its relatively short runtime, means it is easy to return to for experimentation.

There are also over 20 filters for players to unlock in Viewfinder and use with their camera. These filters change any photo taken to match that selected art style and is the main sense of customization offered, but unlocking all of them requires players to complete various tasks throughout the game, such as gathering collectibles or beating any level within a certain time limit.

Our Score & Final Thoughts

Overall, Viewfinder is a unique puzzle game that both experienced problem solvers and fresh-faced novices will find enjoyment in. Filled with several hours of fun and plenty of hidden treasures to reveal, there is no doubt that Viewfinder is setting a new standard for creativity and innovation that should raise the bar of players' expectations out of games adjacent to it in the genre.

Source: PlayStation/YouTube

Viewfinder is available now on PC and PS5. A PC code was provided to ScreenRant for the purpose of this review.