Perspective illusion puzzler THE IMPOSSIBLE is out now

Inspired by designs from MC Escher, THE IMPOSSIBLE is a game about moving a box around crazy shapes. Note: key provided by the developer.

Taking the visuals and gameplay, you could compare it directly with hocus due to the style (and mechanics also like the earlier Monument Valley) but Airem have put their own slightly quirky take on it, complete with a Portal GLaDOS-inspired narrator to prod you along. Using simple controls, all you need to do is get the the box across the shape you're given onto the red square. Doing so is not always easy, due to the perspective. It's not impossible of course but it is challenging.

This is not your typical shape puzzle game though, this cheeky GLaDOS sounding AI that comments on your progress also messes with you. There's some intentional glitches and errors that flash around on certain levels to interrupt you. Quite funny actually the way it's done and it's not over the top either, you're even told if you "obey the rules, you'll get Steam Achievements" in a glitched-out voice with the audio going from all relaxing to properly mysterious.

I don't think it did enough with that though, as there's no big reveal that I was expecting from all the comments it made. Still, it was interesting to play through and left me stumped a few times when I couldn't wrap my head around the perspective and which direction I needed to get into.

If you're after a puzzle game with a mind-bending premise, clean and simple visuals and a lovely relaxing soundtrack that then decides to go a bit mad then THE IMPOSSIBLE is a good fit for you. The only problem is how short it is, you end up finishing it too soon. Going by what the developer said, they do plan to add in more levels and an editor later for people to make their own. I'm quite keen to see an editor, as for a game like this it could be a lot of fun to make some brain-melting shapes.

You can find THE IMPOSSIBLE on Steam and itch.io.