The Swapper

 PC
User Score
8.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 546 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 448 out of 546
  2. Mixed: 87 out of 546
  3. Negative: 11 out of 546

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. strangermoon
    May 23, 2023
    10
    with unravel best looking platform game. solving to puzzles and space travel copying yourself feels like portal very deep and complex some times requre to manage gravity carefully. its work on windows xp with 2005 pc even with that amazing looking graphics. this and unvravel so much better than limbo like or ori like games.
  2. Wrathzo
    Mar 20, 2022
    8
    The Swapper is a puzzle-platform video game for Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X and Linux. It was developed and published by Facepalm Games, a small independent company based in Helsinki, Finland. A science fiction-themed title, the player controls a female scavenger stranded aboard an abandoned research station, and discovers a strange device that allows her to create clones of herself andThe Swapper is a puzzle-platform video game for Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X and Linux. It was developed and published by Facepalm Games, a small independent company based in Helsinki, Finland. A science fiction-themed title, the player controls a female scavenger stranded aboard an abandoned research station, and discovers a strange device that allows her to create clones of herself and switch her consciousness between these clones. The player uses this ability to solve various puzzles and learn about the fate of the station's researchers.… Expand
  3. Topoide
    Feb 18, 2022
    8
    No soy tan fan de los puzzles pero este logra ser un juego interesante con una mecánica innovadora.
  4. MavenUMP
    Nov 20, 2021
    8
    The story is quite nice with probably the best ending I have ever experience in a game. Of course the storytelling isn't comparable to the immersive and interactive storytelling like in SOMA, Titanfall 2, Half-Life or Firewatch. I mean it's a 2D sidescroller (logic) puzzle game and the story isn't fully presented via the gameplay, dialogues and environmental storytelling. A part is put inThe story is quite nice with probably the best ending I have ever experience in a game. Of course the storytelling isn't comparable to the immersive and interactive storytelling like in SOMA, Titanfall 2, Half-Life or Firewatch. I mean it's a 2D sidescroller (logic) puzzle game and the story isn't fully presented via the gameplay, dialogues and environmental storytelling. A part is put in computers you have to find and then read text. So parts of the incredible story are similar to cutscene-like storytelling disconnected a bit in my opinion. But I still recommend.… Expand
  5. Dco326
    Aug 10, 2021
    8
    Jedan od boljih platformera, moze da bude bolje ali ono bas je zanimljivo da se predje jednom, gotivna pricica, ali ne bih vise igrao.
  6. unfortunateith
    Jul 28, 2020
    9
    What is ‘self’? What is consciousness? What does it mean to be alive? Is this a course on ontological philosophy? Nope! It’s The Swapper, a game that will test your mental mettle in more ways than one.

    At its core, The Swapper is a solid, challenging minimalist puzzler. But it’s also so much more. The game is absolutely dripping with atmosphere. The dimly lit space station is equal    What is ‘self’? What is consciousness? What does it mean to be alive? Is this a course on ontological philosophy? Nope! It’s The Swapper, a game that will test your mental mettle in more ways than one.

    At its core, The Swapper is a solid, challenging minimalist puzzler. But it’s also so much more.

    The game is absolutely dripping with atmosphere. The dimly lit space station is equal parts threatening and inviting, the somber soundtrack which follows the player on their journey could not be better suited to the game’s lonely mood. Exploring the enigmatic station is fascinating in and of itself, but the brief zero-gravity jaunts are definite highlights, and potentially some of the most cathartic experiences in all of gaming. Tying everything together is the weighty, gorgeous, hand-crafted art. Hand-crafted, by the way, is meant here in the most literal sense. Just about everything in the game was physically molded from clay before being placed in the game (think digitized claymation), and the result is a feeling of weight and realness unlike anything you’re likely to have seen before.

    As The Swapper progresses, those questions I mentioned above begin to quietly come into play. Ever-so-subtly, one snippet of dialogue at a time, the game begins to plant seeds of doubt in the player’s mind; doubt not only about their place and actions in the game’s world, but also about more universal concepts of existence which are very much applicable the real world. The Swapper makes no grand claims and forces nothing on the player. It merely coaxes complex ideas into the light. Whether or not you examine them is your choice.

    I wish I could provide specifics, but part of the wonder of The Swapper is uncovering both the mystery and the philosophy for oneself. Give it a try.    … Expand
  7. Crimert
    Mar 21, 2020
    8
    One of the best puzzle games I have ever played. I really liked the art, design, concept and gameplay. I advise it to anyone who likes this genre. 5hrs on record.
  8. SilverOrlov
    Sep 23, 2019
    8
    When I first started playing this game for the first time, it seemed to me that it was boring and somehow viscous, both game-play and graphic. But something caught on and, nevertheless, I spent some time going further ... and then even further, and so on until the very end. No, the sensation of viscosity did not go away, but it turned into a feeling of immersion in the atmosphere of someWhen I first started playing this game for the first time, it seemed to me that it was boring and somehow viscous, both game-play and graphic. But something caught on and, nevertheless, I spent some time going further ... and then even further, and so on until the very end. No, the sensation of viscosity did not go away, but it turned into a feeling of immersion in the atmosphere of some cosmic slow thriller with an interesting visual view of the environment. And the boredom simply resolved, after the first levels, when it was necessary to begin to solve the "riddles" of this game ... The plot of the game is revealed gradually, and the climax makes you experience a vivid impression (although it seems that this ending can be considered partly stereotyped, but in this game, an excellent decision was to make exactly as it was done).
    This game deserves to be called one of the best of its genre (platformer).    … Expand
  9. Mpbpl
    Mar 15, 2018
    9
    A really good puzzle game with a surprisingly remarkable story and philosophy behind it.
    The puzzles are up front and they are really good with a big variety of obstacles, their gradual complexity feels very well thought out, the game doesn't feel like getting too hard out of nowhere.
    The game is beautiful and the music is fitting for the "space and all alone" theme, and the story is    A really good puzzle game with a surprisingly remarkable story and philosophy behind it.
    The puzzles are up front and they are really good with a big variety of obstacles, their gradual complexity feels very well thought out, the game doesn't feel like getting too hard out of nowhere.
    The game is beautiful and the music is fitting for the "space and all alone" theme, and the story is very deep and philosophical, making you wanting to find out more about what happened and what are the aliens.
    The only problem for me is what happens with every puzzle game, after you beat the puzzle the replayability is really low.    … Expand
  10. VeIdrin
    Mar 1, 2018
    10
    Dieses Spiel hat mit die beste Science-Fiction-Geschichte die ich je in einem Videospiel erleben durfte.
    Im Grunde besteht das Spiel aus Logikrätseln in dem man das Rätsel lesen und lösen muss. Trial and Error funktioniert zwar auch, dauert aber später länger, als wenn man sich die Zeit nimmt und wirklich nachdenkt. Timing spielt ebenfalls, mal mehr mal weniger, eine Rolle. Getragen und    Dieses Spiel hat mit die beste Science-Fiction-Geschichte die ich je in einem Videospiel erleben durfte.
    Im Grunde besteht das Spiel aus Logikrätseln in dem man das Rätsel lesen und lösen muss. Trial and Error funktioniert zwar auch, dauert aber später länger, als wenn man sich die Zeit nimmt und wirklich nachdenkt. Timing spielt ebenfalls, mal mehr mal weniger, eine Rolle. Getragen und aufgelockert wird The Swapper von der hervorragenden Geschichte und den sehr guten Dialogen.    … Expand
  11. gracjanski
    Feb 10, 2018
    9
    The Swapper is surely a good game.
    The gameplay is simple, but it have some very good puzzles especially in the end of the game.
    The story is interesting and for an indie game surely a good one.
    Graphics does not look cheap, sometimes it is even not bad.
    The biggest advantage is the duration in my opinion: for few hours you get to know a good game. This sounds always good.
  12. kch3691
    Dec 18, 2017
    9
    The Swapper is story focused puzzle game. The story is the main draw and is great sci-fi with even better atmosphere and aesthetic. The puzzles revolve around making copies of yourself who are chained to the movement of the player character. The game can beat in under 4 hours but you will probably need a guide to get 10/10 achievements.
  13. auditbadger
    Jul 30, 2017
    9
    I think that this is truly a unique game and I would recommend that if you are a fan of this type of genre then I think you should give this game a try.
  14. ItsAllOgre5
    May 14, 2017
    10
    This game kicked ass. Even though I finished it in one sitting, I loved the atmosphere, the graphics, and obviously the puzzles. Easily one of my favorite PC games.
  15. Derf3L
    Dec 27, 2016
    7
    Game's not bad, but too much enphasis on the puzzles, which some times can be unnerving..
    The story and atmosphere are pretty crazy though.
    I preferred other titles like Limbo or Inside
  16. GolovA
    Nov 22, 2016
    7
    A good and solid puzzly game. While being atmospheric visually and auditory it somewhat lacks diversity. Because of this, the sense of progression in the game is driven by increasing puzzle difficulty and the story; but while the puzzles do indeed become very hard at a good pace, the story is OKish and not enough to move the game along. As a result, i played Swapper for about 4 hours,A good and solid puzzly game. While being atmospheric visually and auditory it somewhat lacks diversity. Because of this, the sense of progression in the game is driven by increasing puzzle difficulty and the story; but while the puzzles do indeed become very hard at a good pace, the story is OKish and not enough to move the game along. As a result, i played Swapper for about 4 hours, and while joyful - that was enough for me.

    RECOMMEND.    … Expand
  17. TedDawson
    Oct 18, 2016
    7
    Solid Puzzle Game wih good atmoshpehre (sound, light) which remembered me of the Alien movies.

    Puzzles are not to hard which is totally fine. It is Ok that they repeat better this way than having a to short game.

    On PC good playable with XBOX Controller (it even asks if you want a PS4 one at the start - but dont know if there is a difference)
  18. TenchuuKhan
    Jul 7, 2016
    7
    The Swapper is a nice sidescrolling puzzler with an eerie mood and some philosophical side notes that sort of build a storyline. Better executed than Talos Principle though which was tl;dr with all the reading material it throws at you.

    The puzzles are challenging and I'd say a bit above average. One I took forever to get right. There's nothing exceptionally good about this game, and    The Swapper is a nice sidescrolling puzzler with an eerie mood and some philosophical side notes that sort of build a storyline. Better executed than Talos Principle though which was tl;dr with all the reading material it throws at you.

    The puzzles are challenging and I'd say a bit above average. One I took forever to get right.

    There's nothing exceptionally good about this game, and nothing bad. The only thing I'd complain about is that there's no setting for sound levels.

    You like puzzlers? Go for it - don't expect any other entertainment from it though, it's not Limbo.    … Expand
  19. TheMetacritiqer
    Jul 6, 2016
    7
    I managed to solve most of the puzzles on my own. Then I forgot about the game for a year. The goal when I played it today was complete it so I used YouTube for the last puzzles. And the puzzles in my opinion are the least interesting part of the game. The best part is when you've finished it and read discussions on its meaning and ending. The whole story is actually quite thoughtI managed to solve most of the puzzles on my own. Then I forgot about the game for a year. The goal when I played it today was complete it so I used YouTube for the last puzzles. And the puzzles in my opinion are the least interesting part of the game. The best part is when you've finished it and read discussions on its meaning and ending. The whole story is actually quite thought provoking when you start to ask questions. But be warned; this game might go on for too long and the voice acting is pretty bad. Don't feel bad if you look up the solutions on YouTube. Your actually doing yourself a favor by being able to listen the pops of a fireplace and take in the clay made scenery. Not bad for a game filled with rocks. You'll know what I mean shortly.… Expand
  20. Crescendo
    Jul 6, 2016
    5
    After one hour, this seems like a run-of-the-mill platformer with an unique puzzle element that is interesting at first and repetitive very soon. Slap a semi-interesting and semi-crypic story element on and here's another indie-platformer that is buried in praise I don't seem to understand. The thing is, this review could be used for a large number of today's indie platformers. One goodAfter one hour, this seems like a run-of-the-mill platformer with an unique puzzle element that is interesting at first and repetitive very soon. Slap a semi-interesting and semi-crypic story element on and here's another indie-platformer that is buried in praise I don't seem to understand. The thing is, this review could be used for a large number of today's indie platformers. One good idea and nice graphics don't automatically equal a good game for me.

    To be quite fair, it's not a bad game. It is 'just another game'. Which is exactly what's wrong with it in my eyes.    … Expand
  21. RossBoss
    Jun 20, 2016
    10
    An awesome puzzle game that is right up there with Braid and the Portal series. Very unique and fun mechanics, challenging but fair puzzles, and an aesthetically pleasing environment. My only knock on the game really is the esoteric story but even that is intriguing to an extent. Love it.
  22. psylife
    Apr 5, 2016
    7
    A clever and innovative puzzle game. The atmosphere is immersive and intriguing; The presentation and sound is simple but effective. It is an elegant experience that is both challenging, fund, and rewarding. If you have even a remote interest in puzzle games, you should definitely give it a go.
  23. k9wazere
    Dec 13, 2015
    7
    Solid puzzle game, with a couple niggles. 1. The last third of the game is notably easier than the middle third, which contains the hardest puzzles. 2. The story is intriguing and drives the game forwards, but very anti-climactic. It neither resolves the questions raised during the game, nor does it bring much closure. The ending I saw was bleak and didn't make too much sense, tbh. ButSolid puzzle game, with a couple niggles. 1. The last third of the game is notably easier than the middle third, which contains the hardest puzzles. 2. The story is intriguing and drives the game forwards, but very anti-climactic. It neither resolves the questions raised during the game, nor does it bring much closure. The ending I saw was bleak and didn't make too much sense, tbh. But these are minor points, really. As a puzzle game, it's a solid 7 out of 10. Why Metacritic thinks a 7/10 is a "mixed" rating I don't know. To me, 7 out of 10 is a positive review!… Expand
  24. janosbiro
    Oct 27, 2015
    10
    The Swapper is a game about philosophy of mind, staring Daniel Dennett and David Chalmers discussion over the question of whether consciousness can exist independently of the brain. This discussion is presented piece by piece, and very slowly. You solve the game’s puzzles by swapping your mind to other vessels, your clones. It makes you ask: What is a mind? Am I my mind? How am I, if I’mThe Swapper is a game about philosophy of mind, staring Daniel Dennett and David Chalmers discussion over the question of whether consciousness can exist independently of the brain. This discussion is presented piece by piece, and very slowly. You solve the game’s puzzles by swapping your mind to other vessels, your clones. It makes you ask: What is a mind? Am I my mind? How am I, if I’m not sure if this is my original mind or someone else’s mind? It is a delightful experience from the beginning to the end. The fact that it is made out of clay, like The Neverhood and The Dream Machine, is a very nice touch too. This is an all-time favorite.… Expand
  25. phwaap
    Oct 27, 2015
    9
    Since discovering Portal in the Orange Box, I've been a big fan of puzzlers. The Swapper delivers a unique appearance, a strange story, and some damn hard puzzles. Overall an experience well worth the time.
  26. everin
    Oct 1, 2015
    9
    Tier 1
    + Highly creative puzzles with a unique gameplay hook
    + Interesting visual design (the whole game world was made with claymation)
    + A creative story and progression married closely to the gameplay
    ? Narrative has a somewhat flat ending
    - Some puzzles can be just a bit too oblique to figure out
  27. Matseb2611
    Jul 17, 2015
    8
    This is one of the better puzzle games I've played. It offers a simple and straight-forward concept and utilises it to its full potential - create clones of yourself that copy your every move in order to solve puzzles. The puzzles vary between each other, and some introduce new things into the mix. For example not being able to create any clones within blue light, or not being able to swapThis is one of the better puzzle games I've played. It offers a simple and straight-forward concept and utilises it to its full potential - create clones of yourself that copy your every move in order to solve puzzles. The puzzles vary between each other, and some introduce new things into the mix. For example not being able to create any clones within blue light, or not being able to swap between the clones within red light. In late stages the game also offers gimmicks with artificial gravity too, which adds a layer of complexity to the puzzles.

    Most of the game has you solve puzzles in order to collect orbs, and a certain number of these is required to get past checkpoints to another area. I really liked this semi-open feel of exploration that the game offered, and for most of it you didn't even have to solve every single puzzle in order to make progress. You could afford to skip some. However, the very last console checkpoint requires that you solve every single puzzle that's left. Most of the puzzles were really intuitive and felt rewarding when you solved them, but I wasn't a fan of a few near the end. Three of the puzzles took me so many attempts that I eventually had to consult a walkthrough. I think that it would've been better if the final checkpoint didn't require every single puzzle to be solved.

    Throughout exploring the ship and solving puzzles, there are many logs and interactable computer terminals that shed light on the creepy backstory behind this device that you're using to create clones. In general the story was in the background, but its concepts would leave you thinking of what's morally right, especially with the way it concluded with an interesting choice of two alternate endings.

    All in all, I enjoyed the game and thought it was pulled off really well. Only the last few puzzles near the end frustrated me. Would certainly recommend it for all fans of puzzle games.    … Expand
  28. stuffisgoodin
    Feb 5, 2015
    10
    Pretty much perfect if you like metroidvanias or puzzle games or speculative fiction. I really can't think of more to say. The puzzles are sometimes very challenging, but very satisfying to solve, and it's wonderfully atmospheric.
  29. scorp18
    Jan 16, 2015
    10
    This game is a real jewel. The story about the "thinking" stones is really interesting if you follow it, the graphics and the soundtrack add a melancholy feeling and the puzzles are very well done. It's the type of game that you feel you're really inside it. Definitely recommended.
  30. Nobilis1984
    Jan 8, 2015
    6
    Yes, it is certainly good. But I do not understand the hype. It is a very good indie game but he deserves far from the enthusiasm as had one Limbo.
    -------- -------------- ------------------ ------------------ ----------------- ------------------- ------------------- ------------------
prev
Page:

Awards & Rankings

10
#10 Best PC Game of 2013
71
#71 Most Discussed PC Game of 2013

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
87

Generally favorable reviews - based on 36 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 35 out of 36
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 36
  3. Negative: 0 out of 36
  1. Kill Screen
    Aug 4, 2014
    77
    The game is not about death or life but about the soul leaving the body and heading someplace new. It’s about the brief moment it spends flying.
    Read full review
  2. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Oct 24, 2013
    80
    A puzzle platformer that won't frustrate nor bore you. The puzzles complete a solid story, which is unique even for an indie game. [Issue#234]
  3. Pelit (Finland)
    Oct 7, 2013
    87
    The Swapper is a first-rate puzzle platformer that boasts a gorgeous atmosphere as well. The story doesn't quite live up to its potential, though, but it's not a major issue. [Aug 2013]
See all critic reviews »