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In a way, I feel lucky to have the opportunity to review A Fold Apart, because the game revolves around something we are all experiencing, which is distance. As our whole culture shifts to staying home, we have engaged in a variety of means in order to reach out to others who are also stuck in the same situation.

We have been creative in our methods of communicating during this pandemic, and that approach is part of the puzzle aspect of A Fold Apart. The game depicts a happy couple that must deal with a rather long separation due to work. Things start off okay, until some communication mishaps create seeds of doubt and discouragement in the two characters.

The puzzles themselves represent the gaps in the character’s relationship. Their self doubts and fears create gaps that must be crossed. To do so, you fold the screen in different directions in order to reach the goal. You can fold horizontally or vertically, as well as fold a little or a lot. The puzzles seem simple, but they can be pretty challenging.

Not only do you need to fold, but you also need to flip the page and/or unfold pages in order to reach your destination. You may need to fold and flip in order to avoid barriers or to move things that you can climb on. For me, I needed a lot of trial and error to move on. But fear not, there is a very handy hint section in the menu that will give you the step-by-step process to complete a puzzle.

Visually, A Fold Apart uses its unique style to convey the emotions of the characters and show their emotional state in colorful ways. I really enjoyed the art design and found it unique and engaging. There are also little touches that I really enjoyed. For example, having some control over what you text to your partner is a nice aspect and gives you some freedom on how the conversation develops. You can also choose the genders of the characters, which I think is a great addition.

A Fold Apart really spoke to me with its themes and messages. The puzzles were challenging enough to keep me engaged. The length of the game is rather short, but I don’t think it would have been as effective of a story if the game was dragged out more than its 3- to 4-hour runtime. If you are looking for a unique puzzler, or want to connect with characters as you live through social distancing, then I would recommend you pick up A Fold Apart.

Editor’s Note: A copy of the game was provided by the publisher for review purposes.