When it seems as though the world is on fire, sometimes a little bit of escapism via video games is exactly what's needed. It's part of the reason why the likes of Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Stardew Valley have found such devoted fanbases, as a moment to get away from external pressures. Thankfully there are many other games that aim to bring players into this kind of relaxation, including A Little To The Left from developer Max Inferno.
A Little To The Left is a puzzle game with coziness at its core. The player is tasked with bringing a tiny bit of order to the mess of over 75 stages, rearranging and fitting together items within a household environment. Along the way, however, there's a mischievous cat on the loose who may be more than a little disruptive.
For starters, it's clear that A Little To The Left achieves its main purpose. It's a game designed very much to put the player into a space of calm, as they work they way through a handful of simple puzzles per playthrough. It's very relaxing to play, and will no doubt get the player into the right headspace if they don't try and get through too much of A Little To The Left in a single playthrough.
A Little To The Left will inevitably get some comparisons to zen puzzler Unpacking, although it doesn't quite have the same impact. Instead, its framework is more along the lines of the likes of Dude, Stop, with a static screen and a puzzle to solve that often requires a some lateral thinking. Not quite reaching the brilliance of Unpacking is nothing to be sniffed at, however, and those after a similar vibe will likely find it here.
Instead, A Little To The Left may work best as a video game version of a mindfulness exercise. It's something built into its very design in the form of a daily puzzle, meaning that once the player is done with the core game there's still a reason to check in to get a similar moment of relaxation. Given that A Little To The Left works best in 15-30 minute blocks, a little like Donut County, this longevity is worthwhile.
It is worth noting that A Little To The Left isn't perfect with its gameplay, and in spite of it being a relatively short experience there are some puzzles that likely could have been removed. Every so often the game drifts into trial and error, which takes a little away from the mindful atmosphere. After all, there's far less satisfaction to be found when the player isn't using their own logic.
Nonetheless, A Little To The Left still manages to find success. A big part of that is in its aesthetic, with each stage being lovingly designed with a soft approach to help build that sense of calm. Meanwhile, there's a lovely soundtrack that plays throughout, and the occasional appearances of its antagonist cat are always a joy.
Steam Deck users can also rest steady knowing that A Little To The Left works well on the device. In fact, some may find it more enjoyable to play the game on Valve's handheld platform, especially since it's a game that thrives on being picked up for a short burst of play. Not only does it mean that the player can get nice and cozy on the sofa playing it, but the option for both touch screen and analog stick controls gives a versatility that is certainly appreciated.
Overall, A Little To The Left is exactly the kind of relaxing experience that it sets out to be. Some of its puzzles could have been better refined, but those after a meditative moment will appreciate what it has to offer.
A Little To The Left releases 8 November 2022 for PC. Screen Rant was provided with a PC download code for the purposes of this review.