Sizeable – Review (PC)

By Dave Lambden On May 21, 2021

The tag line of Sizeable is “Size really does matter after all”. It’s a fitting focus for a game whose primary gameplay mechanic involves giving players the hand of god by altering the size of objects in order to solve stage based puzzles. But this casual puzzle game from indie creator Sander Ambroos and Business Goose Studios proves that so much more goes into taking a simple mechanic into a meaningful gaming experience. Using clever level design, a delicate soundtrack and an awe-inspiring sense of child-like imagination, Sizeable provides a simple, yet unforgettable, indie affair.

The primary goal in Sizeable is to solve puzzle stages by finding three separate obelisks hidden throughout each level. From an isometric viewpoint players will clear levels by rotating the stage and manipulating the size of different level elements. These manipulations start out relatively simple as players will be growing and shrinking trees, rocks, buildings, and vehicles. But puzzles quickly ramp up in their complexity as you’ll need to expand clouds to produce rain, increase the size of a moon to raise and lower the water level or shrink the sun to change day to night.

Maneuvering key objects will open up new areas or cause transformations in the stage that will expose one of the three obelisk’s. These mechanics initially came off as rather ambiguous – I found myself randomly messing with level elements until something clicked. However by the third or fourth level you become better acquainted with how different objects can interact with one another and the entire process becomes much more intuitive. Clearing puzzles was never too challenging and perhaps a bit too easy. But uncovering each obelisk was rewarding nonetheless as each solution requires a number of different augmentations and steps before one of your three key items reveals itself. Additionally, a single turtle is hiding in each level as a bonus objective. These shelled reptiles can be very difficult to find and offer a good reason for players to revisit each level for 100% completion.

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On their own, Sizeable‘s twenty-six stages offer a quaint, calming, and satisfying puzzle experience. But what sets the game apart and makes it memorable is the sheer amount of creativity and ingenuity that each level has. Thematically no two levels are the same and each stage takes on a wildly different personality and focusses on a single aspect of the creator’s unbelievable imagination. Players will solve puzzles focused on theme parks, dinosaurs, Halloween, time travel, camping, carnivals, pirates and insects just to name a few. The levels don’t connect to one and other and this is what made it special. Each level felt like an endearing jaunt through our childhood drawing books – each page with a vastly different projection of our budding and whimsical imaginations.

There were so many standout levels in Sizeable. A personal favorite was the space level. Planets revolve around a lunar installation equipped with a massive laser gun. As the size of the planets are changed, so does their orbital speed and position relative to on and other. I won’t spoil the solution here, but the solution incorporated both a rudimentary understanding of planetary physics and a bit of sci-fi fun. Another standout required using a sun, moon and a tower-top pyre to change several different aspects in on single stage. This included playing with the time of day, season and the water level in a moat surrounding the tower.

Sizeable‘s graphics and music do a fantastic job at tying the experience together and enhancing the game’s charming personality. Geometric styled level elements perfectly balance both vibrant colors and soft shades to underline their visual appeal. Key objects are designed in a way to help them standout amongst set dressing in most cases to reduce confusion. Rounding out the visuals are the lighting and shadows which expertly change as the player messes with their viewpoint, time of day and size of individual object. The aspect of Sizeable that caught my attention almost immediately however was the music. Composed by Jamal Green, the soothing string and piano based soundtrack perfectly sets the tone for serene puzzle experience that Sizeable successfully delivers. Level specific sound effects amplify the individual tone of each stage – seagulls gently squawk in water based levels, fire crackles around pyres, and the wind swirls in deserts.

Sizeable is in no means a challenging or long lasting puzzle game. And it’s not meant to be. Instead it delivers a creative, charming, and captivating experience through its artistic and childlike level design coupled with innovative manipulation mechanics. Clocking in at around two hours, the game doesn’t last long. But replayability is complimented with uncovering all hidden turtles, clearing out the achievement list and most exciting, the promise of new free-levels to be added in post launch. The efforts of Sander Ambroos and his small team at Business Goose Studios should be heartily exemplified as they have created a true indie gem. Sizeable is a game I won’t soon forget and comes easy to recommend for any and all gamers looking for a soothing and expressive puzzle experience.