Review of Shift 87

Initial release date: July 23, 2024

Engine: Unity

Platforms: Microsoft Windows, macOS, Mac operating systems

Developer: Pixelsplit GmbH & Co. KG

Genres: Indie game, Puzzle, Casual game, Adventure

Publisher: Daedalic Entertainment

Rooms for improvement

Back in the 1980s, a UK game show called The Krypton Factor saw contestants performing a variety of physical and mental tasks in a very British manner, often while wearing terrible track suits. One of the rounds was dubbed “Observation,” which entailed seeing a video and then immediately rewatching an altered version of the same film to note the differences. A coffee cup may change color, a message may have altered text, or someone may no longer be wearing the same sweater as before. Now, apply that principle to gameplay, but with a scary twist. The result is Shift 87, minus the tracksuit.

Is this an exception?

Your duty as an anonymous employee for a faceless organization is to repeatedly travel a multitude of environments and detect anomalies between them, which you report to higher-ups using a Ghostbusters-style handheld device. The gameplay falls halfway between a walking simulator and a spot-the-difference game, with anomalies ranging from subtle changes in the environment to plainly strange phenomena like a formerly dry corridor becoming entirely flooded or infested with rodents.

The player’s only interaction is to report an abnormality and move around each of the three environments. Each cycle of reporting takes between five and ten minutes per environment, making it a quick experience to dip into and out of. To advance to the next environment, you must successfully complete six cycles of the level in a row, either reporting accurately or not reporting at all if you believe there are no changes. Because the levels are created at random, not every cycle involves a change; hence, if you report one wrongly, you return to zero for that environment — as indicated by a timer, calendar, or list level. Even more subtly, the game puts on a plaque how many anomalies you’ve discovered on each level to help you track your progress.

Is this unusual?

The environments are procedurally produced, and certain levels may appear to have more than one abnormality. For example, on one cycle, the carpet was different in two distinct areas, but I could only report one of them, and the game didn’t specify which anomaly I should report on. In fact, the game’s hands-off attitude left me feeling confused rather than scared. There were a few extremely good jump scares (check off the “apparition hurtling at you” and “small girl facing a wall” boxes here), but the majority of the changes you need to document are environmental changes that vary from obvious to “huh?””.

The three scenes — an office floor, a factory floor, and a dark gas station — are visually diverse but not particularly thrilling to travel repeatedly. The petrol station, in particular, is the most challenging of the three because you have to rely on your flashlight to highlight areas, making identifying distinctions tough at times. In several cases, I attempted pointing my meter at spots I suspected had changed, even though I had no idea, merely to relieve the monotony. There are 66 abnormalities to report across your shifts, 22 per location, but by the third shift, I was ready to close it up.

It’s a terrific idea, but it’s based on a few things that didn’t work. The difference between an obvious anomaly (a dark figure gazing through a window) and a little one (the addition of a set of drawers) is enormous, but trying to find these minor alterations proved extremely irritating. Furthermore, the storytelling is simplistic at best and non-existent at worst. What is the reason you are completing this task? Who do you work for? The greater picture is kept hidden from you, and when you eventually discover all of the oddities, the payoff is nothing short of lackluster. I came away from the encounter completely frustrated. It’s as if someone decided they couldn’t be bothered writing a real conclusion and instead tossed in a random sequel-baiting cutscene before rolling the credits.

Apparently, this isn’t an anomaly.

So we’re left with a lovely, monotonous spot-the-difference game. Your accomplishment is punctuated by occasional unsettling moments, but the two to three hours of gameplay are generally mundane, culminating to a throwaway ending. Shift 87 had the potential for so much more.

Review Overview

Gameplay: 84%

Story: 78%

Aesthetics: 90%

Content: 82%

Accessibility: 80%

Value: 85%

Overall Rating: 83%

Very Good

Summary: Shift 87 combines immersive gameplay with an engaging story that keeps players on edge. The game mechanics are well-polished, offering a smooth and challenging experience. The narrative is compelling, though it can sometimes take a backseat to the action. Aesthetically, the game shines with atmospheric visuals that pull you into its world. There’s a good amount of content to explore, though some sections may feel repetitive. Accessibility is strong, with intuitive controls, but there’s room for improvement in certain areas. Overall, Shift 87 is a solid choice for those seeking an engaging and visually striking game.