A Little to the Left
Organize your stationary, stack some paperwork, and reshuffle that bookshelf. That's the core premise of A Little to the Left, a cosy puzzler from indie studio Max Inferno that has players sifting through household items while watching out for a mischievous cat intent on undoing their handiwork.
The laid back sort-em-up looks to be the latest in a growing number of wholesome titles attempting to find catharsis in overlooked aspects of everyday life, following in the footsteps of Unpacking, Coffee Talk, Kind Words, and more.
After playing the brief demo -- the result of a prototype that emerged during a 48-hour game jam -- and finding myself inexplicably contented by the simple act of straightening pencils and rummaging through paperwork, I sought out Max Inferno co-founders Annie Macmillan (illustrator and animator) and Lukas Steinman (programmer and designer) to learn how they created A Little to the Left's wonderfully tactile puzzles.
Game Developer: There seems to be a growing affection for cosy puzzle titles that turn seemingly mundane chores into a sort of digital therapy. Why do you think players are being drawn to the genre?
Annie: I like to learn about other people's seemingly mundane preferences, pet peeves, and small joys, and often this is facilitated through things/objects. It's remarkable how we can relate through our idiosyncrasies. Maybe the genre you're describing is presenting content that appeals both on a universal and personal level, allowing people to feel connected to others, while celebrating their individual experiences.
My own interest in observation is one reason why I am drawn to working with seemingly mundane objects. I like discovering a structure or relationship hidden in plain sight, and the
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