Square: Trial and Error

About Square: Trial and Error

Square: Trial and Error is a puzzle platformer from Arcainess that drops you into a town overrun by glitches. Released in 2025 for PC, it tasks you with solving 20 increasingly bizarre levels by trial and error. Each puzzle has hidden rules you uncover through experimentation, no hints, just observation and consequence. The vibe is quirky, with a focus on pure problem-solving. You’ll rebuild Town Square by figuring out physics shifts, environmental quirks, and even glitch-based challenges. Think of it as a love letter to lateral thinking, wrapped in a minimalist art style. If you’ve ever enjoyed figuring out how a puzzle works before solving it, this is your jam.

Gameplay

You control a square-shaped character navigating levels that twist basic platforming into abstract puzzles. Each stage starts with a blank slate: you jump, interact, and watch outcomes to deduce rules. For example, one level might let you phase through walls only after collecting a hidden key, while another reverses gravity if you stand still for five seconds. The game forces you to replay sections until you piece together the logic. Beyond puzzles, you’ll collect buried treasure, recruit party members with unique abilities, and decorate a home base. Controls are simple, movement and interaction, but the challenge comes from learning the level’s secret systems. Sessions feel like a mix of experimentation and eureka moments, with no safety net.

What Players Think

PlayPile players rate it 4.2/5, with 68% finishing all 20 levels. Average playtime is 5.3 hours, though 30% report 10+ hours stuck on later puzzles. Community moods: 70% curious, 20% frustrated, 10% amused by the absurdity. One review: “Love the creativity, but some levels feel like they’re mocking me.” Completion rate for all achievements is 42%, with 50 achievements total. The “Glitch Zone Master” achievement (solve all puzzles in under 30 minutes) is 100% completion’s hardest hurdle, achieved by only 12% of players. Critics praise the ingenuity but note the lack of hints alienates some.

PlayPile's Take

This game thrives for puzzleheads who relish figuring out systems from scratch. At $19.99, it’s a low-risk buy for fans of games like The Witness or Baba Is You. The 50 achievements add longevity, though half are tedious speedruns. Skip if you prefer guided challenges, this is pure chaos and curiosity. Best played in short bursts; those patient enough to crack its logic will find a rewarding, if occasionally maddening, experience.

Storyline

Story? Glitch Zone has taken over Town Square, so you've got to save the people of Town Square by completing 20 trial-and-error levels.