Turn Photos Into Platforms: Viewfinder, the Mind-Bending Puzzle Game, Hits Xbox Series X Today
Viewfinder, the 2023 puzzle game from Sad Owl Studios, is now available on Xbox Series X. The game uses a camera-based mechanic to turn photographs into physical parts of levels, and it additionally ships on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Windows PC.
- Release: Xbox Series X launch today; other platforms already supported.
- Core mechanic: take photos and materialize them into the game world.
- Puzzles: ramps, batteries and teleporters, soundwave routing, and maze-like optional areas.
- Story: climate-change related simulations with notes and audio logs.
- Platforms: Steam Deck handheld support noted; Nintendo Switch port planned “this winter.”
How Viewfinder plays
At its core, Viewfinder asks players to use a camera to take pictures of level geometry and then place those photos into the environment so they become usable, solid objects. For example, you can photograph the side of a building and then orient that photograph in the world to create a walkable ramp. In short, photos become level pieces that you rotate, move, and rely on to progress.
Puzzle design and variety
The puzzles start simple and then add layers of mechanics. Early tasks teach the photo-to-object idea. Later levels introduce items such as batteries that power teleporters. Sometimes you can clone a battery by photographing it; other times you must free a battery from a cage by combining placement and perspective tricks. Additionally, several later puzzles involve routing sound to activate teleporters, which requires planning with the camera and managing a limited amount of film per level.
Optional challenges
There are also optional, more exploratory sections. For instance, an early optional level presents a labyrinth-style area where the goal is to find a collectible and then reach the exit. Overall, the game’s runtime is roughly five hours, and the level design supports both short sessions and longer play stretches.
Story and presentation
Viewfinder includes a narrative thread about climate change. Players move through simulated environments searching for research that could help restore plant life to the real world. In addition, notes and audio recordings left by previous researchers are scattered through levels, which adds context and background to the core puzzle gameplay.
Platforms and availability
Viewfinder is out now on Xbox Series X, as well as on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Windows PC. The publisher, Thunderful Publishing, has announced a Nintendo Switch port planned for this winter, according to a news release.
The game has also been played on handheld hardware. Specifically, it has been run on the Steam Deck, so Viewfinder is available to play in handheld mode on that platform.
