Agent A: A Puzzle In Disguise

 Switch
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. Pure Nintendo
    Aug 29, 2019
    90
    However you decide to play Agent A: A Puzzle in Disguise, do it. The game is clever, it’s funny, it’s well-designed, and it’s involving. It’s a great game to share with others, but it’s fun to play on your own, too. Even at twice the cost of the mobile version, the game is well-worth the price on the Switch. The only bad thing about it is the suspicion that we’ll have to wait another four years for the completion of a sequel.
  2. Multiplayer.it
    Aug 29, 2019
    86
    Agent A is a very entertaining and clever puzzle based adventure, that could be enjoyed by almost everyone who is interested in this kind of product.
  3. NintendoWorldReport
    Oct 7, 2019
    85
    Overall, Agent A: A Puzzle In Disguise is a clever and straightforward adventure-puzzle game. It’s much more accessible and condensed than something like Myst or The Witness, but it’s easy to complete over the course of a few evenings. Unfortunately, the Switch port seems to have done away with the challenges and achievements of the mobile versions, so there isn’t really any reason to replay Agent A after completing it. Regardless, I can highly recommend assisting Agent A in her mission as it’s a fun distraction that doesn’t overstay its welcome. This review will self-destruct in five seconds. Good luck, Agent!
  5. Vooks
    Aug 29, 2019
    80
    Agent A is cute, clever and an absolute joy of a world to play around in. It’s the sort of game where you can, like I did, invite someone to sit on the couch with you and help out with some puzzle solving, or just keep it on hand to occasionally pick up and play through a chapter. It’s absolutely worth your time and money, but if you’re grabbing it for the Switch just be prepared for a more handheld experience.
  6. Gaming Age
    Nov 21, 2019
    75
    If you want anything more than a few nice-looking puzzles, you won’t really find that in Agent A. It’s a fine little puzzle game that you can fly through in five hours or so, but if you expect anything more than that you’ll be disappointed.
  7. God is a Geek
    Sep 5, 2019
    75
    Agent A is more Johnny English than James Bond but there’s no harm in having a little fun as a spy.
  8. Switch Player
    Oct 25, 2019
    70
    With its humorous spy theme and its satisfying, varied puzzles, Agent A is great fun. Admittedly, it’s currently cheaper and probably more at home on mobile, but it’s still a solid point-and-click addition to the Switch library.
  9. The Indie Game Website
    Sep 3, 2019
    70
    The gameplay is similar to other hidden object games, but the stylized look and groovy vibe give it a definite leg up. You’ll do a lot of tapping on things, object manipulation puzzles, and searching each room for hidden codes, safes and other secret things across a variety of locations and missions. Puzzles range from incredibly obvious to frustratingly obscure, but in general, Agent A is a solid little puzzler.
  10. Nintendo Enthusiast
    Aug 29, 2019
    70
    Agent A: A Puzzle in Disguise is a fun little puzzler. It has fairly simple puzzles, but the real challenge is connecting the dots and figuring out what you need to use and where. I may be stuck in chapter 5, yet I can still happily recommend it. The visuals may be a little underwhelming, but it’s more than serviceable for the type of game this is. I would heavily recommend that you play it in handheld mode, too, though using a controller is not inhibiting. However you choose to play it, Agent A will take you on an adventure and make you use your brain along the way.

Awards & Rankings

98
#98 Best Switch Game of 2019
90
#90 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2019

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 34 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 34
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 34
  3. Negative: 3 out of 34
  1. bergcamp101
    Sep 14, 2020
    7
    Very decent game, with a nice plot, which makes it bigger and better, then just mediocre point and click puzzle.
  2. I_C_Saltzberg
    Feb 20, 2023
    4
    Two major problems:

    1. Too many of the puzzles are simply about remembering strings of numbers. And that's just lazy and boring. The    Two major problems:

    1. Too many of the puzzles are simply about remembering strings of numbers. And that's just lazy and boring. The mechanical puzzles are nice, but few, and at a beginner's level.

    2. No map with teleportation between rooms. And this game is in dire need of one. I made a mental note of a puzzle with a bird in chapter five: an otherwise easy challenge that becomes infuriating because of the constant back-and-forth. Add to this the "smooth" transitions between areas and you find yourself performing a chore, not a challenge.

    The art is fine, though. It may not have the daring of Day of the Tentacle or Sam and Max: Hit the Road, but a similar confidence in how it twists trees, rocks and buildings in a consistent style.

    Too bad, then, that Agent A's personality makes little sense. His comments often try to mimic a suave 1960s movie sleuth, but they often spill over into those of an overexcited TikTok influencer, especially so when the sentences lack punctuation marks. ("Boy Havok must pay well" is an example.)

    So, a game where most effort (and/or skill) went into the esthetics, while the actual gameplay as a whole is rather disappointing and sometimes frustrating.    … Full Review »
  3. Gumdrop
    Jan 22, 2023
    10
    Definitely one of my favourite puzzle games of all time. There's a good mix of puzzle difficulties here. Some are really easy, while othersDefinitely one of my favourite puzzle games of all time. There's a good mix of puzzle difficulties here. Some are really easy, while others make you think a bit more. Although I wouldn't say any are particularly challenging. But that's part of what I liked. For me, it's a fun puzzler that I can play through and enjoy the scenery and the story. I don't particularly want super difficult puzzles. In other games, yes, but I don't think they would have worked in this one.
    It's designed in such a way that it's not difficult to remember where you saw the thing where this thing I just picked up works.

    It's not the longest game. I pretty much played it in one session. Took me around 5 hours without walkthroughs. I'm not sure if it could have used an extra chapter or if that would have made it outstay its welcome.

    Even though it's a totally different kind of game. It reminds me of the NOLF {No One Lives Forever).

    Overall, a really enjoyable game.    … Full Review »
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