Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure Review - A Unique Puzzle Game That Keeps Things Moving

Developer: Furniture & Mattress LLC
Publisher: Furniture & Mattress LLC
Release: July 25th, 2024
On: Windows, MacOS
From: Steam, Epic Games Store
Price: TBC

Arranger is a puzzle game that’s all about movement—both metaphorically and literally. It’s funny, surprising, and builds a simple movement puzzle concept into complex, layered head-scratchers. It’s a charismatic puzzle game that won’t outstay its welcome.

The Core Concept

Movement is the essence of Arranger’s puzzles, and it’s a bit tricky to explain without visuals. Imagine the world of Arranger as a grid. You don’t move the main character, Jemma, a feisty misfit kid, directly. Instead, you control the rows and columns she stands on, turning them into travelators. Jemma remains stationary while you move the ground and everything on it in various directions. If you’re familiar with "How To Say Goodbye," it’s a similar concept but with more squares.

Jemma lives in a small town inside The Hold, a barrier that protects inhabitants from Static—a sinister, rainbow-colored force that locks things in place. Jemma’s adventurous spirit drives her to explore beyond town, teaching you how to navigate Arranger’s moving grid. Early puzzles involve maneuvering around bullies and moving boxes, with the grid wrapping around so Jemma can pass through one end and appear on the other.

Diverse Puzzles and Settings

Despite the seemingly simple concept, Arranger offers an impressive variety of puzzles over its 8-hour gameplay. Each area has a unique theme, like a beachy village, a tech dungeon, or a cactus-covered desert. The illustrations in the backgrounds and comic-style cutscenes add character and detail, making the game visually engaging.

The puzzles themselves evolve in complexity. You’ll encounter rocks affected by Static, Tetris-like configurations, and gummy, scream-faced monsters that need to be cleared with swords. There are timed challenges, puzzles involving linked characters, and stealthy missions. The boss fights are a bit underwhelming, as they involve positioning items while the monster waits, but overall, the puzzles stay fresh and challenging.

Humor and Charm

Arranger’s humor is a delightful surprise. From quirky sheep that aren’t really sheep to an inventor’s robot that can’t feel love, the game’s writing is filled with moments that will make you chuckle. The underground commune with ancient traditions is a particular highlight, offering plenty of laughs.

Accessibility and Replayability

If you find yourself stuck, Arranger includes optional settings that allow you to skip almost any puzzle, making it accessible to puzzle enthusiasts and newcomers alike. The game’s optional puzzles, like finding a necklace in a mine, add replayability for those looking for an extra challenge.

Final Thoughts

Arranger is an imaginative, cheerful, and funny game that doesn’t overstay its welcome. It’s a great challenge for puzzle fans and kind enough to be approachable for beginners. The final moral of the game might be a bit heavy-handed, but overall, Arranger’s charm and creativity make it a standout in the puzzle genre. I still haven’t solved the optional mine puzzles, but that just makes me want to try again.