The Swapper

The Swapper is a wonderfully clever game that’s as smart as it is atmospheric. The swapper gun is a simple device that allows some fantastically tricky puzzle solving, and the pace of the difficulty increase is perfectly balanced so you’re never looking at a room as a giant pile of work rather than a fascinating task. The dark reaches of space are a horrible, deadly place, but if they’re filled with excellent gaming like The Swapper, it’s probably worth the trip.

The final act of the game taunts us with philosophical questions, and since it is appropriate, we will remind you of it before you start playing this extravagant, uncanny experience. "What is dying? A disconnection? The absence of knowledge? What is it for? To avoid something worse? For a short time, at least." The only thing that holds this game back from a perfect score is its relatively short length, which oddly reflects the lifespan of The Swapper's clones.

The Swapper doesn't outstay its welcome, ending before its gameplay starts to grow tiresome. At the same time, this ending is bittersweet, as it's easy to wish for more clever puzzles using these mechanics. If you can manage to cruise through without getting stuck too long on many of the puzzles, The Swapper can easily be completed in a four-hour sitting.