Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure is a delightful puzzle game that puts a unique spin on the sliding block genre. Developed by Furniture & Mattress and published in July 2024, Arranger follows the story of Jemma, a misfit girl with the extraordinary ability to manipulate her surroundings like a sliding puzzle.
The game combines clever puzzles with a charming narrative and stunning visuals, creating an experience that is both intellectually stimulating and emotionally engaging.
Gameplay: Sliding Puzzles Taken to New Heights
The core gameplay of Arranger revolves around sliding block puzzles but with a twist. Instead of directly controlling Jemma’s movements, players manipulate the environment around her.
Each row and column in the game’s grid-based world acts as a conveyor belt, moving in sync with Jemma’s position.
This innovative mechanic introduces a new layer of spatial reasoning and problem-solving, as players must anticipate the consequences of their actions several steps ahead.
The puzzles start off relatively simple, gradually introducing new elements such as immovable objects, keys, and grappling hooks.
As the game progresses, the challenges become increasingly complex, requiring players to carefully manoeuvre objects and Jemma herself to reach the desired goal.
The intuitive controls and responsive gameplay make navigating these puzzles a breeze, allowing players to focus on solving the brain teasers at hand.
One of the most impressive aspects of Arranger’s gameplay is its ability to stretch the boundaries of the sliding puzzle genre.
The game introduces a wealth of variations on its core mechanics, ensuring that the puzzles never feel repetitive or stale. From traversing water on rafts to commanding robots with joysticks, each new area of the game brings fresh challenges and mechanics to master.
Story and Characters: A Charming Coming-of-Age Tale
While the puzzles are the main draw of Arranger, the game’s narrative is no less impressive. The story follows Jemma, a young girl who feels out of place in her insular hometown and yearns for adventure beyond the confines of her world.
When a mysterious force called Static begins to corrupt the land, Jemma sets out on a journey of self-discovery, using her unique abilities to help those in need and uncover the secrets of her past.
The narrative is told through a combination of comic-book-style panels and in-game interactions, allowing players to piece together the story at their own pace.
The writing is charming and whimsical, with a cast of quirky characters that bring the world of Arranger to life. From the eccentric inventor who creates a robot incapable of love to the teenager desperate to escape her overbearing parents, each character adds depth and personality to the game’s world.
While the story may not be as emotionally impactful as some other games in the genre, it serves as a solid foundation for the gameplay, providing context and motivation for Jemma’s adventures.
The coming-of-age themes of finding one’s place in the world and embracing one’s uniqueness are well-executed, making Jemma a relatable and sympathetic protagonist.
Visuals and Audio: A Feast for the Senses
One of the standout features of Arranger is its stunning visual presentation. The game’s art style, created by David Hellman (known for his work on Braid), is a delightful blend of chunky, Fantagraphics-inspired character designs and detailed, hand-drawn backgrounds.
The use of picture-in-picture effects, where smaller panels depict different angles or moments of the action, adds a sense of depth and dynamism to the game’s world.
Each area of Arranger has its distinct visual theme, from the lush greens of the jungle to the dusty browns of the desert.
The attention to detail in the environments is impressive, with hidden secrets and Easter eggs tucked away in every corner.
The character animations are equally charming, with Jemma’s expressive movements and the quirky behaviours of the supporting cast adding to the game’s overall appeal.
The audio in Arranger is a perfect complement to its visuals. The soundtrack, composed of strings and percussion, captures the energy and whimsy of the game’s world.
The music never overpowers the gameplay, instead serving as a subtle backdrop that enhances the overall experience. Sound effects are used sparingly but effectively, with satisfying cues for completing puzzles and interacting with objects.
Accessibility and Replayability
One of the most impressive aspects of Arranger is its commitment to accessibility. The game includes a range of options that allow players to tailor the experience to their preferences, including the ability to rebind keys, adjust screen shake, and change text size.
For those who find certain puzzles too challenging, there is also an option to skip most of them, ensuring that everyone can progress through the story.
While Arranger may not offer the same level of replayability as some other puzzle games, there is still plenty to keep players engaged.
The optional puzzles in the game’s mine areas provide a more significant challenge for those looking to test their skills, while the open-world exploration and side quests encourage players to delve deeper into the game’s world.
Conclusion
Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure is a delightful and innovative puzzle game that pushes the boundaries of the sliding block genre.
With its clever gameplay mechanics, charming narrative, and stunning visuals, Arranger offers an experience that is both intellectually stimulating and emotionally engaging.
While it may not be the most challenging game for seasoned puzzle enthusiasts, its accessibility and commitment to providing a well-rounded experience make it a must-play for anyone who enjoys brain teasers and quirky adventures.
