Age Twisters previewed at Gamescom as charming co-op puzzler

Age Twisters is a co-operative puzzle adventure game from Barcelona's Piccolo Studios, previewed at Gamescom. The game tasks two players, controlling a grandfather and granddaughter, with using magical bracelets to shift between four life stages - child, teenager, adult, and elder - to solve environmental puzzles.

According to co-founders Jordi Ministral and Alexis Corominas, the studio sought a more cheerful project after their previous titles, Arise: A Simple Story and After Us, explored darker themes. The core concept is built around bridging generational gaps. "The story is tied to the generation gap," Ministral told Eurogamer, referencing stereotypes about both older and younger people. "We wanted to make a game that brings generations together."

Gameplay and core mechanics

Each age in Age Twisters grants unique abilities necessary for progression. In a factory demo, the child form could swap places with chickens to handle obstacles. The oldest age, however, limits mobility, preventing traversal over certain barriers with slower recovery from dodges.

There is no traditional death or respawn system. Instead, hazards like enemy projectiles or slimy surfaces will drastically age or de-age a character. Being aged below a young child turns the character into a helpless baby requiring a partner's revival. Being aged above an elder transforms the character into a skeleton, which can also be restored by the co-op player.

Tone and presentation

The game employs a vibrant, colorful aesthetic with bright greens and blues matching its upbeat tone. Its humor is described as slapstick and fizzy, akin to an animated children's movie, featuring an army of goofy enemy goons who often fumble or get chased by chickens.

Character dialogue changes dynamically based on the selected age. Young children crack jokes, while adults offer more confident, wise remarks. Players can even switch ages mid-conversation, altering the responses they hear sentence-by-sentence.

Design philosophy and context

The developers emphasized accessibility and simplicity in puzzle design, intending the game to be playable by practically anyone. Ministral connected the game's theme to contemporary social trends, citing a New York Times report that a third of young adults live with their parents due to economic pressures. "It happens the same in Barcelona, people are living with their parents until they are 30 or 30-something it's crazy," he said.

He sees this situation as a potential opportunity for the game's message. "If it makes them get together and have a nice time, why not?" Ministral remarked. The preview was based on a hands-on demo at Gamescom in Cologne, Germany.