We’ve all had those moments when we’re traveling and have silent expectations of how we want our experiences to go. Whether you’re going to a movie theater and want a good spot or just want to survive a multi-hour long flight, odds are you’ve had moments where you wish your spot was better. For me, it’s hoping I get a window seat when hopping on the train to go into Boston.
Poti Poti Games, with the publishing support of the lovely folks at Wholesome Games, has taken this dilemma and created a fun experience out of it in the form of Is This Seat Taken?; a cozy puzzle game where you help find everyone that perfect spot just for them.
The game follows an individual named Nat, a humble rhombus looking to make it big in Hollywood. Throughout the game, you follow the story of Nat’s beginnings as an indie film actor. Through some colorful dialogue between the geometric characters, you’ll see Nat struggle to gain the confidence to talk to big-name folks in the industry, citing her “indie” status as a means of not feeling worthy enough for a big star’s attention.
Despite being a geometrically-shaped character, the encouragement to pursue one’s dreams is enough to warm some hearts!
To go along with the story, the levels are based on the different countries Nat travels between to meet fellow movie stars and get her name out there. Nat starts out in Barcelona where he tries to get confidence from his friend Alexis, before journeying to Brussels, London, and New York.
As this story is taking place, the player is tasked with playing matchmaker by assigning people to their seats based on their preferences. Sometimes you’ll have a character that smells really bad, so you can’t put them next to someone that dislikes strong odors. As the levels progress, so does the complexity of meeting everyone else’s needs.
In addition to preferences between characters, the setting also makes things more difficult. One of the levels takes place on a boat, and you have to work with people who dislike noise but also want to take pictures on the side of the boat.
Or in one of the levels in London, you have to organize sports fans who are either sensitive to noise, or want to cheer for their team. You even have to separate the fans between those rooting for the home team and visiting teams, which perfectly encapsulates what it’s like to attend the average sports game in Boston.
The game is relatively short, with there being 5 different sets of levels based on real life cities. Each city has 5-6 normal levels, as well as a bonus level if you manage to make everyone happy in the regular ones. The game can easily be completed in just a few hours but is a delightful experience all around.
Is This Seat Taken? is a delightful experience that pokes fun at the habits we have developed when traveling to events. The underlying story about someone trying to become a large, influential figure in their craft by networking and developing their own personal skills and confidence is charming and relatable. There are a handful of lines of dialogue I’ve even pointed to because I can relate to the struggle of aspiring to be something greater.
You can sit down with Is This Seat Taken? today, as the game is available on Steam, Switch, and mobile platforms.
We’ve all had those moments when we’re traveling and have silent expectations of how we want our experiences to go. Whether you’re going to a movie theater and want a good spot or just want to survive a multi-hour long…
We’ve all had those moments when we’re traveling and have silent expectations of how we want our experiences to go. Whether you’re going to a movie theater and want a good spot or just want to survive a multi-hour long flight, odds are you’ve had moments where you wish your spot was better. For me, it’s hoping I get a window seat when hopping on the train to go into Boston.
Poti Poti Games, with the publishing support of the lovely folks at Wholesome Games, has taken this dilemma and created a fun experience out of it in the form of Is This Seat Taken?; a cozy puzzle game where you help find everyone that perfect spot just for them.
The game follows an individual named Nat, a humble rhombus looking to make it big in Hollywood. Throughout the game, you follow the story of Nat’s beginnings as an indie film actor. Through some colorful dialogue between the geometric characters, you’ll see Nat struggle to gain the confidence to talk to big-name folks in the industry, citing her “indie” status as a means of not feeling worthy enough for a big star’s attention.
Despite being a geometrically-shaped character, the encouragement to pursue one’s dreams is enough to warm some hearts!
To go along with the story, the levels are based on the different countries Nat travels between to meet fellow movie stars and get her name out there. Nat starts out in Barcelona where he tries to get confidence from his friend Alexis, before journeying to Brussels, London, and New York.
As this story is taking place, the player is tasked with playing matchmaker by assigning people to their seats based on their preferences. Sometimes you’ll have a character that smells really bad, so you can’t put them next to someone that dislikes strong odors. As the levels progress, so does the complexity of meeting everyone else’s needs.
In addition to preferences between characters, the setting also makes things more difficult. One of the levels takes place on a boat, and you have to work with people who dislike noise but also want to take pictures on the side of the boat.
Or in one of the levels in London, you have to organize sports fans who are either sensitive to noise, or want to cheer for their team. You even have to separate the fans between those rooting for the home team and visiting teams, which perfectly encapsulates what it’s like to attend the average sports game in Boston.
The game is relatively short, with there being 5 different sets of levels based on real life cities. Each city has 5-6 normal levels, as well as a bonus level if you manage to make everyone happy in the regular ones. The game can easily be completed in just a few hours but is a delightful experience all around.
Is This Seat Taken? is a delightful experience that pokes fun at the habits we have developed when traveling to events. The underlying story about someone trying to become a large, influential figure in their craft by networking and developing their own personal skills and confidence is charming and relatable. There are a handful of lines of dialogue I’ve even pointed to because I can relate to the struggle of aspiring to be something greater.
You can sit down with Is This Seat Taken? today, as the game is available on Steam, Switch, and mobile platforms.
by Michael Fertitta
