Swim Out Demo

As it was proven many times before, simple ideas are more than capable to attract a huge player base if the gameplay mechanics are addictive enough. However, variety is the key word, because repetition is not very fun, no matter the circumstances. Either way, independent developers usually come up with very neat concepts, but they have trouble maintaining the novelty factor for too long.

Swim Out is a turn-based puzzle game in which you have to swim around a pool in order to avoid colliding with the other swimmers and get out of the pool in one piece. Various other obstacles make an appearance along the way, so the difficulty level increases as well. To top things off, the overall interface is very simple and to the point, which good news in this case.

In short, each level features a different pool that filled with other swimmers, sunbathers or a few other obstacles that force you to find a way around them. Although most of these objects are static, the swimmers are constantly on the move, which adds more challenge to the whole thing. Granted, their movement pattern is always the same, so at least you can plan ahead.

You have a few special abilities at your disposal as well, even if you have to use environmental objects in order to use them. Thus, umbrellas can be used to stun other swimmers for a limited number of turns, which allows you to get past sections that are otherwise impossible. The full game promises more mechanics, which should diversify the experience even more.

The graphics are actually very clean and enjoyable, even if the environments remain the same throughout the game, except of course that the pools change for every level. The controls are entirely mouse-based, so it’s very easy to understand what to do and you do not have to struggle with other hotkeys or special commands.

In the end, Swim Out is actually a very polished puzzle game with a neat idea that can be expanded a lot in the future. Hence, we can only hope that the developers do not run out of inspiration in the following months.