It's Hip to be...Rhombus.

I've been on a wholesome, cozy game trip lately and I managed to finish a title that surprised me quite a bit.  I don't play many puzzle games and have found that my patience for them has greatly diminished (is it the phones?  Is it aging?  I don't know).  It's a bit of a shocker when I stumble across one that I actually finish and enjoy.  Let me tell you about Is This Seat Taken?

In Da Clurb.  Some shapes want to dance, others...not so much.

What is it?

A puzzle game where you must correctly position different shapes in their preferred seating arrangement.  The shapes themselves don't matter, but each has their own preference and your goal is to figure out how to seat them in the perfect location in a variety of different settings.

How much playtime can I expect?

You're probably looking at ~6-8ish hours max for a full playthrough (that includes the bonus levels).  I finished mine at 8.5 hours (and that included all the bonus levels).  It's on the short side, but does have some replayability.

Pros:

+ There's a story built in that involves a rhombus who is trying to break into acting.  It's kind of cute and silly and the game is built around his adventures in travelling, building up his acting skills, and trying to make it big in an industry that doesn't promote many rhombuses (rhombi?) into the spotlight.

+ Each level presents a different layout that changes as you progress.  On one level you might be trying to arrange passengers on a boat trip, on another you are in a restaurant and have to make sure all the food and seating preferences are met.  This provides an enjoyable amount of variety to keep the premise of the game rolling right along.

A bus trip.  Everyone wants the perfect seat.

+ Gameplay that is simple, but just challenging enough.  Each character has their own seating preferences--for example, you might be seating people on a bus and they want to sit next to the window or the aisle.  Some characters might want to sit somewhere quiet where they can read; others want to sit next to someone so they can chat; others (who represent the most loathsome of shapes) want to listen to loud music (AKA the non-headphone wearers).  Obviously, the readers aren't going to want to sit next to the chatters or the most annoying shapes in the world.  Figuring out the correct arrangement is satisfying without getting to the point of frustration.  I struggled a bit with one level, but was able to figure out all the levels without looking anything up.

+ Bonus levels!  Based on how well you satisfy the requirements of each level (it's scored on a star-ranking system--5 stars means that each character is positioned in their ideal seating preference) you can unlock an extra bonus level at the end of each stage.  It's a fun addition of some extra content.

+ Each stage has its own challenges.  The one I struggled with the most involved seating fans at a soccer match.  Some shapes want to stand and will block the view of others; some shapes are cheering for the home team and don't want to be seated next to the fans cheering for the away team.  There's inevitably a stinky/overly-perfumed character who offends the senses of others.  Figuring out the perfect alignment can take a ton of trial and error.  Luckily, the game is built around easily being able to re-position shapes as much as you need to.

+ Short levels/good for shorter play sessions.  If you're looking for something you can pick up for <30 minutes, this is a good choice.  The levels are short and your progress is saved automatically.

+ It's only $9.99.  I'd pay full price for it (I got it on sale in the Wholesome Games sale).

Cons:

-It's short--less than 10 hours.  Although, it's at least somewhat replayable.

Recommendation:

If you're a teacher who has tried (and inevitably failed) to create the perfect seating chart...this is your Olympics.  In fact, there's even a series of levels where you have to create seating charts in a classroom and it feels strangely familiar (as you try your best to seat the chatty students away from one another).  I greatly enjoyed this game without the frustration and lack of willpower to look things up that I usually experience.  It has a cute story and figuring out the perfect arrangement gives you a real sense of satisfaction.