The PAX Rising showcase at PAX East always has a handful of titles that draw me in. It’s thanks to this booth that I have seen all sorts of great ideas put into practice. One of those games that stood out for this very reason was Jigrift, a 3D Puzzle Platformer by the solo developer at Empty Castle Games where the world is comprised of jigsaw pieces! As someone who enjoys jigsaw puzzles, puzzle games, and 3D platformers, I knew I had to give this game a try.
In the world of Jigrift, a phenomenon called “The Scattering” has occurred, fragmenting the world into jigsaw pieces. You play as Bert, a three-eyed frog whose lifelong dream was to find Jigrift. However, unbeknownst to him, his abrupt arrival on the shore is what invoked The Scattering, so now it’s his job to reassemble the islands. Whoops! It’s not just the land, though. Everything from treasure maps to bridges has broken into pieces, and Bert needs to use his voodoo frog powers to put everything back together.
It’s a simple gameplay premise, but I found it to be very endearing in my demo playthrough. Exploring islands is already a fun thing to do in games like Demon Tides, but having to piece them together to find your way to various objectives made for a fascinating spin on the discovery aspects of 3D platformers. In a very literal sense, it is an entertaining take on world building.
Beyond the puzzle mechanics, the 3D platforming felt reminiscent of N64 platformers. Yes, this is complemented by a visual style that’s very similar, but mechanically, the platforming controls felt tight yet responsive. Swinging from trees with your frog tongue was fun to do, and the retro style complements the gameplay fairly well.
While I didn’t get much time to explore the scope of what the world of Jigrift has to offer, I can confidently say that I am excited to play the full game when it comes out this year. It’s a unique take on 3D platformers, and one that I am confident many will enjoy experiencing.
The PAX Rising showcase at PAX East always has a handful of titles that draw me in. It’s thanks to this booth that I have seen all sorts of great ideas put into practice. One of those games that stood out for this very reason was Jigrift, a 3D Puzzle Platformer by the solo developer at Empty Castle Games where the world is comprised of jigsaw pieces! As someone who enjoys jigsaw puzzles, puzzle games, and 3D platformers, I knew I had to give this game a try.
The PAX Rising showcase at PAX East always has a handful of titles that draw me in. It’s thanks to this booth that I have seen all sorts of great ideas put into practice. One of those games that stood out for this very reason was Jigrift, a 3D Puzzle Platformer by the solo developer at Empty Castle Games where the world is comprised of jigsaw pieces! As someone who enjoys jigsaw puzzles, puzzle games, and 3D platformers, I knew I had to give this game a try.
In the world of Jigrift, a phenomenon called “The Scattering” has occurred, fragmenting the world into jigsaw pieces. You play as Bert, a three-eyed frog whose lifelong dream was to find Jigrift. However, unbeknownst to him, his abrupt arrival on the shore is what invoked The Scattering, so now it’s his job to reassemble the islands. Whoops! It’s not just the land, though. Everything from treasure maps to bridges has broken into pieces, and Bert needs to use his voodoo frog powers to put everything back together.
It’s a simple gameplay premise, but I found it to be very endearing in my demo playthrough. Exploring islands is already a fun thing to do in games like Demon Tides, but having to piece them together to find your way to various objectives made for a fascinating spin on the discovery aspects of 3D platformers. In a very literal sense, it is an entertaining take on world building.
Beyond the puzzle mechanics, the 3D platforming felt reminiscent of N64 platformers. Yes, this is complemented by a visual style that’s very similar, but mechanically, the platforming controls felt tight yet responsive. Swinging from trees with your frog tongue was fun to do, and the retro style complements the gameplay fairly well.
While I didn’t get much time to explore the scope of what the world of Jigrift has to offer, I can confidently say that I am excited to play the full game when it comes out this year. It’s a unique take on 3D platformers, and one that I am confident many will enjoy experiencing.
by Michael Fertitta
