Finding time to sit down and play games these days is difficult. My working life might involve writing about them in a multitude of ways, but you’d be mistaken for thinking all I ever do with my time is play video games. I wish things were that simple, but they aren’t. Keeping up with everything frequently involves carving out parts of my evening to play games, read features from other outlets, or push my gaming habits to new horizons. It’s exhausting, but also darn rewarding when I stumble upon cute little gems like Arranger.

Our own Axel Bosso has already written a great review explaining what the puzzler is about, but I distatic.aayyy.com/topic/dn/’t realise the extent of its loveliness until I stepped into it for myself. You’re Jemma, a young girl with a heart of gold who also can’t help causing chaos wherever she goes. And she’s also leaving town today, saying farewell to her charming yet confining homestead as she prepares to embrace the outside world. A pretty typical setup, but it’s how Arranger folds its mechanics into the narrative that makes it so magical.

It’s Time For The Cha, Cha Slide

My first comparison was Crypt of the Necrodancer without the music, as Jemma - and every other character and object, occupies a singular tile in the world. Move her in the right direction, and she’ll either teleport to the other side of the screen or knock against any obstacle or character that sits in front of her. But however you move, the world moves with you.

When I was still getting to grips with the controls in the early minutes, I bumped into a friend in town and sent them falling off a ladder and straight to the ground, leaving all their belongings scattered about the place. They scolded me and I deserved it, and a little scene like this told me that while Arranger takes place in an eccentric world with no regard for the laws of physics, it still abides by the laws of morality and realism. And just like that, I cared.

To my benefit, I was also told that Arranger only takes a handful of hours to beat, and also comes with a few assist options and even the ability to skip puzzles that stump you. Some might argue this defeats the purpose of a puzzle game like this where the mechanics are simple on the surface, yet continually evolve with each new stage, but if that’s how you would rather enjoy a game which also has a decent story to tell, then fill your boots.

As for me, with so many triple-A blockbusters and indies giving me the stink eye from across the room, the faster I can get through something the better. There are times when I’d love to take my time, but with Arranger, it’s a brief experience I’ll savour and leave behind.

So Many Indies, So Little Time

Just for funsies, here’s a list of indies from this year alone I still need to finish and/or play:

  • Until Then
  • Still Wakes The Deep
  • Lorelei and the Laser Eyes
  • Balatro
  • Pacific Drive
  • Animal Well
  • 1000x Resist
  • Crow Country

There’s even more to that list but I distatic.aayyy.com/topic/dn/’t want to push my luck, but when you combine those with a regular stream of higher-profile games, you can see how keeping on top of everything is next to impossible. It’s a great problem to have, but it’s also frustrating. I wish there was a way to pause time and experience all the things I’ve been missing out on. Hey, somebody should totally make an indie game about that!

On the flipside, there is a satisfaction to not seeing everything the indie world has to offer, as it makes the things I do see that much more valuable. In a few years' time when my life sits in a different place and I have some time to spare, I can dip into my backlog and be impressed by a game I always had eyes for, but the harsh reality of existing meant it passed me by. It’s just one factor that defines my gaming habits alongside my day job, my lovely melting pot of ADHD and OCD, and the guilt that comes from not seeing everything. But feeling like you do have to stay on top of every single game in existence is no way to live.

Next: She-Ra And The Beauty Of Things Not Lasting Forever