Getting an offer to check out a game about slapping is a pretty hilarious request. That said, this is the exact kind of game that interests me. Comedic, silly games are a genre that should be explored more than they are. I only found out the name, Slap Out Of It!, when I got to the booth at Summer Game Fest. Now, it’s a title that not only fits, but one that I’m thoroughly looking forward to playing when it eventually launches.
Slap Out Of It has you filling the shoes of a new worker at a company called Puzzl. Turns out, they originally created jigsaw puzzles, but those don’t sell anymore. Now, they look to offer solutions, and you’re entering the workforce as a new “PuzzPal”, in a jab at Apple Geniuses. With the power of slapping, anything is possible, so after a quick intro video, you are deposited behind the Puzzl bar to help the public. Your main controls for interaction are your two hands, both only tuned to slap the fire out of whatever is straight ahead.
This is where all of the puzzle solving starts, and it's brilliant, even in the beginning tutorial. A couple of people with problems are flung in front of you via moving chairs. Each one of these is a blast to figure out, with only whatever is in the back room available to use, but one in particular sticks out.
A police officer comes by, and his issue is, of course, donut related. Seems that the shop he frequents has stiffed him on the filling, and you need to fix it. To do so, you’ll have to subvert your expectations and turn your brain off. The riddles in front of you aren’t going to require intelligent solutions – fun ones are what Turbo Button are going for.
The first part of this challenge brought me back to the previous Puzzl customer. I had made a copy of a dollar bill to afford an item in a vending machine, but in the process jammed the printer. There was little visual indicator surrounding the screen on the printer that had you open it up, revealing actual jam underneath. I was able to slap it onto my hand, and then onto the officer’s donut.
From here, he mentioned that while the jam was a good idea, he wants something creamy as well. I looked around, mainly at a stack of coffee cups in the back, hoping to find coffee creamer or something similar. While I could have pressed a button for a hint, I eventually remembered (with the help of co-founder of Turbo Button Holden Link) a fire extinguisher I had from earlier. The foam looks like cream, right? It worked, although I doubt it tasted good.
What’s cooler is this is only just the start. Everything really opened up in the next level, where you’re exploring the Puzzl facility. This first wing has several floors connected by an elevator, and they are very different. One houses a museum, another has a bathroom, and the other is a… club? While it’s a wild disparity of theming, it all works together to provide several fun areas to explore, and you’ll need each one to complete this wing of Puzzl.
I won’t get into additional spoilers for this section – I’d prefer you get to enjoy that yourself, but the comedic design is so joyful. I was grinning from ear to ear as I played, getting a chuckle in as different puzzles played out. There are plenty of creative ideas on display for solving the different floors, and I felt pretty smart when figuring out a few of them. Turbo Button is doing a great job of riding the line between frustrating and fun, giving you enough challenge to make for a good time.
Turbo Button has also chosen the perfect aesthetic for the game. I’ve seen references to Trover Saves The Universe, and I personally saw a lot of BugSnax, Octodad, and Job Simulator in here. Your character is a kind of muppet, but I also saw chickens dancing in the club and a blue blob of a security guard just chilling with his weird alien booty sticking out. Yes, I touched the butt as well; Slap Out Of It had better have an achievement for that. At any rate, there is a lot of character to these… characters, a bright and happy art style that fits the charming and silly tone.
Just go ahead and add Slap Out Of It to your wishlist. It’s going to be too much fun to pass up. I had an amazing demo, and I look forward to slapping the heck out of any and everything when it releases. Slap Out Of It will arrive in 2027 on PC and consoles.
