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. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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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