Sizeable

Developer: Sander Ambroos, Business Goose Studios | Publisher: Business Goose Studios | Release Date: 2021 | Genre: Casual / Puzzle / Indie | Website: N/A | Purchase: Steam

In Sizeable, players are presented with low poly dioramas where they have to find three pillars to proceed to the next level. These pillars are cleverly hidden, but finding them all will require more than just poking around. Instead, players must make use of the shrinking and growing mechanic which the game is based around. It’s not the type of game that is going to leave you scratching your head for very long, but working your way through the puzzles is a very calming experience.

The dioramas in Sizeable are viewed from an isometric overhead perspective, which players can rotate to get a better view. While it is not possible to zoom in or out, the dioramas are detailed enough that this is not an issue. Not only does the game feature very colorful visuals, but it is not lacking in variety when it comes to different themes either. These themes range from the seaside and a campsite to a farm, jungle, swamp, and even space. In total, there are 21 main levels in the game, but players will quickly discover that four additional secret levels can be unlocked too. The developer has also revealed an update roadmap for Sizeable, which revealed that not only are there more levels planned for the game, but that they will be free.

Since Sizeable is a casual game at heart the controls couldn’t be simpler. Everything is mouse controlled and players can pick up and move certain objects by left-clicking and dragging. Rotating the dioramas is accomplished by holding down the right mouse button while the scroll wheel handles the job of growing or shrinking objects. It is very straightforward and intuitive, so players can spend their time focusing on the puzzles instead of struggling with the controls. Not everything can be resized or manipulated, but the game does a good job of keeping the unnecessary clutter to a minimum. The game even has a dot below the cursor that shows you exactly where an object you have picked up will be dropped. This is extremely useful due to the perspective of the game and makes it a breeze to accurately place objects where they are needed on the diorama.

Each level in Sizeable can be completed in a matter of minutes, but the levels increase in complexity as players progress through them. The developer has also come up with very creative ways in which to make use of the resizing mechanic for the puzzles. For example, changing the size of the moon on one level actually influences the tide while the size of a campfire on another level determines the time of day.

Everything from the weather to the seasons can change in Sizeable depending on your actions and discovering how these can help or hinder you is half the fun. There’s even a level in a dark mine where the only light source is a lantern that players can move around to illuminate its surroundings. The music, which was written and composed by Jamal Green, is very easy on the ears. Annoying music is often the bane of puzzle games, but thankfully Sizeable does not suffer from this issue.

Sizeable doesn’t have any time limits, leaderboards, or star ratings, which makes for a very relaxing experience. Unfortunately, this does mean that the replay value is not that high. Sizeable is addictive and short enough that most players should be able to complete all the levels in one session. There is an optional challenge in the form of a tortoise that is hidden on each of the dioramas. Finding them is not essential to unlock the next level, but doing so is fun and getting all of them not only nets you a Steam achievement but also opens up a secret level. Overall, Sizeable is definitely a game that leaves you wanting more, so we are eagerly looking forward to the planned updates.

Although Sizeable is not the first game to tinker with the shrinking and growing of objects as a puzzle mechanic, it is certainly one of the most charming ones. The visuals alone are enough to draw most players in and the gameplay straightforward enough that you can become hooked right away. The length is obviously going to be the biggest issue for most players as it took us about two hours to complete the game and earn every Achievement. The promise of free future updates should make up for the lack of replay value, but it remains to be seen if this is going to be a feasible option for the developer. We suggest checking out the free demo that is available on Steam or watching our first look video to get a taste of the game, but chances are that if you like what you see you’ll love playing Sizeable. It is one of the surprise standouts for us so far this year and can only become better with the free content updates.