Is This Seat Taken’s Steam Next Fest Demo Features Relatable Puzzles

When you’re hopping on a bus, do you prefer snagging a window seat, or are you more of a stand-and-sway kind of person? At the cinema, are you one of those folks who must secure the “middle of the middle” seat like I do? Maybe you opt for the aisle for a quick getaway, or sit up front for the full-on, immersive experience. The other day, I scored a fantastic spot for a French heist film (it was “Rififi” for all the fans out there), but then a towering guy plopped down right in front of me. So, I spent the rest of the movie craning my neck or leaning awkwardly to catch the subtitles dancing across the screen. Frustrating, right?

Seating positions seem to be a big deal to many of us. Whether we’re conscious of it or not, we all have our preferences, and sometimes, we take them a bit too seriously. Toss a bunch of opinionated people together, and you’ve got a recipe for seating drama. Ever taken on the daunting task of planning wedding seating? It’s pure chaos.

Enter the quirky logic game, “Is This Seat Taken?” This debut from Poti Poti Studio is a delightful brain-teasing nightmare, the sort that’s actually enjoyable. Drawing inspiration from the vibrant culture of Barcelona and Brussels, the game offers a laid-back and cosmopolitan vibe. The gameplay? You’re tasked with arranging endearing little shape characters in various seating configurations until everyone is content. A demo is already up for grabs, gearing up for its feature in the upcoming Steam Next Fest, which runs from February 24 to March 3. The game is currently under development for both PC and mobile.

The demo throws you into a series of Barcelona-inspired challenges, each more intriguing than the last: a taxi, a stretch limo, a cozy cinema, a bustling bus, and even an outdoor rock concert with table seating (because, Barcelona, of course). Nail these, and you’ll unlock the ultimate test: arranging seats at a wedding. The game’s visual presentation is top-notch—think tasteful pastel shades, soothing sepia backdrops, and relaxing elevator jazz. The characters are charmingly simple geometric shapes. Hover over one, and a card reveals their seating whims: wanting to sit next to family, preferring solitude, neglecting a shower (a recurring issue in this universe), or avoiding unpleasant odors.

As you venture through each scenario, you’ll face evolving challenges with new guests arriving or departing, particularly on the bus. While there’s no pressure of time limits or penalties, Poti Poti designed it for a relaxed yet engaging experience. Yet, achieving those prized maximum star ratings can be tricky. Balancing the quirky seating needs requires clever juggling as you separate sleepyheads from chatterboxes or place cologne enthusiasts away from sensitive noses. In the bus level, pairing two chatterboxes was my undoing when one suddenly left, leaving their partner lamenting, “Nobody listens to me.” At the wedding, a lone wolf, who refused to sit with anyone well-dressed, drove me up the wall.

Getting everything just right brings immense satisfaction—not only because it’s great to crack a logic puzzle but also because we’ve all been there, stuck somewhere less than ideal. But let’s be real, would we really appreciate some cosmic hand swooping down to rearrange us all perfectly?