Swim
Out

Swim Out (2017) is a puzzle game like the popular Traffic Jam board game, where you need to get your swimmer to the exit of a busy swimming pool. As well as the different setting, this game extends the challenge as the other swimmers also move when you do.

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Play involves choosing which direction your swimmer moves. Your goal in each pool is to get to the steps that let you get out. As you progress the pools get larger and more complex. Other swimmers move each time you do, which means you need to co-ordinate your movement with theirs.

There are special objects in the pool that offer new ways to solve the puzzle. Buoys, fins, water guns, and a kayak. For example you can raise a parasol to temporarily stun the other swimmers in an area.

There are 12 different types of swimmers you have to deal with, each with their own way of moving around, ranging from the simple breaststroke swimmers to the more complex divers or cheeky water-bombing kids. You also have disruptive elements that make life more difficult, like waves, crabs or jellyfish. For completionists there are secondary objectives: complete the levels without using an item, in less than a certain number of moves, grab all the stars in the pool and so on.

The result is an award winning puzzle game that is both tranquil and challenging. What starts a simple premise soon develops a surprising amount of depth.

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Our examiner, Andy Robertson, first checked Swim Out 2 years ago. It was re-examined by Jo Robertson and updated 15 months ago.