If there’s one game I’ve been having a hard time waiting for this year, it’s – ironically – While Waiting, the new fidgety puzzle game from the makers of 2021’s gorgeous Moncage. I say ‘fidgety’, as this is arguably about as far away from a traditional puzzle game as you can possibly get. For example, each of its 100+ scenarios aren’t there so much to be ‘solved’ as to be prodded, poked and pushed to find out exactly how much restless fun you can cram into life’s little idle moments – waiting in line at a theme park, say, or waiting for your luggage to arrive at the airport carousel.
While WaitingDeveloper: OptillusionPublisher: OptillusionRelease: Q1 2025Download the demo on: Steam
While in real life, you might indulge in a bit of phone-based doomscrolling, say, While Waiting takes a more absurdist view of things – why not go round the luggage carousel yourself, for instance? Or engage in a PowerPoint clicker war with your boss as you try and make a boring office presentation more lively? Finding these little moments of idle silliness is all part of While Waiting’s charm, and the good news is that its brand-new Steam Next Fest demo has added a bunch of new levels to try while we wait for its final release in early 2025.
While Waiting – Steam Next Fest Watch on YouTube
You can, of course, just ‘wait’. Each scenario is timed to end eventually, and you’ll be rewarded for ‘doing nothing’ and generally being a regular human being in these situations – things like ‘wait for a game to finish downloading’, or ‘wait for the elevator’. But let’s be serious. While Waiting is not really a game about actually waiting. It’s about causing maximum chaos in the time that’s available to you, and making the most of each and every moment, whether that’s imagining an arcade space shooter in the fogged up café window while you wait for a bus, or wiggling around like a wormy physics ragdoll on your parents arms as you wheel your legs around to kick a nearby fairground detritus into a trashcan. It’s about finding joy in the mundane – a good mantra for life generally, if nothing else – and its playful, classical piano score only serves to underline all your maniacal, mischievous mayhem.