Solo developer Thomas Waterzooi worked for AAA development studios in the past, including Larian Studios (Baldur’s Gate 3) and IO-Interactive (Hitman). He left because he wanted to create wholesome, casual indie games — and I’d say he’s found his sweet spot showcasing real-world artworks in an approachable manner. He invited players to touch the artwork (twice), but now he is inviting us to Please, Watch the Artwork.
Announced during Day of the Devs, Please, Watch the Artwork continues to immerse players in the realm of a renowned modern artist. This game showcases Edward Hopper’s paintings, often reflecting themes of loneliness and urban solitude. (His most famous work may be Nighthawks, which you can learn more about here.) The game will be released for iOS/Android, PC, and Nintendo Switch
The game is set at the imaginary Museum of Animated Modern Art (MaMA). As the museum’s nightwatch, your job is to spot changes in the paintings. You aren’t being physically chased, but the feelings of paranoia, melancholy and isolation will follow you. You’ll need sharp eyes and a strong memory to keep track of the lonely clown who moves from canvas to canvas, infecting paintings with his sorrow.
A press release lists the game’s key features:
- Casual Spot-The-Difference – Easy point & click controls make the game accessible to all types of players. Take advantage of the zoom function to delve into every intricate detail.
- No jumpscares/no monsters – However, the game can make you feel paranoid, melancholic and isolated. Oh… and it has clowns.
- Themed galleries – Six levels showcasing over 40 paintings from American realism painter Edward Hopper, bundled by theme and subject.
- Clowns – They are sad, but innocent.
- Real hand-painted animated art – Animations, soundscapes and VFX bring Hopper’s masterpieces to life, featuring more than 400 unique anomalies.
- 3 difficulty levels + cozy mode – Both hardcore gamers and casual players can find their sweet-spot by adjusting the difficulty level. And there is a cozy mode without time pressure or game over. Just report changes at your own pace.
- Did we mention clowns?
Developed and published by Thomas Waterzooi, Please, Watch the Artwork will be released for iOS/Android, PC/Mac/Linux via Steam, and Nintendo Switch. While no release date has been announced, during the Day of the Devs presentation, Waterzooi did tease that it might be around Halloween.
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