There are plenty of places we’d happily explore in a video game. The sewers of Salvador, Brazil probably wouldn’t be high on that list. Plungeez, however, has decided that an underground labyrinth is the perfect place for a puzzle adventure, swapping swords and guns for plungers, environmental puzzles and a healthy dose of pixel-art exploration.
Priced at £8.39, Plungeez is now available on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, with the game also releasing on PC, PlayStation and Nintendo Switch.
At A Glance
- Game: Plungeez
- Developer: Team Zeroth
- Publisher: QUByte Interactive
- Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch
- Price: £8.39
- Genre: Puzzle-platformer / Metroidvania
A Labyrinth Where Logic Beats Combat
Plungeez takes a slightly different approach to the familiar 2D adventure. There are no enemies to batter and no combat system to master. Instead, the challenge comes from figuring out how the world around you works.
You play as Bôni, who finds themselves trapped beneath the historic streets of Salvador. The underground world is interconnected, meaning progress isn’t simply a case of following a straight line from one level to the next. Rooms lead into one another, secrets open up new routes and solving one puzzle can completely change how you approach another.
That non-linear structure gives Plungeez a distinctly Metroidvania-like feel, although exploration here is driven by curiosity rather than combat.
Get To Know Your Plunger
Bôni’s trusty plungers are more useful than their rather humble appearance might suggest. They can be used to stick to walls, interact with the environment and repair ancient pipes, helping you negotiate the underground maze.
The game is built around manipulating the environment and understanding how its various elements fit together. That means observation and spatial awareness are likely to be far more valuable than quick reflexes.
A Pixel-Art Mystery Beneath Salvador
The setting is another part of what makes Plungeez stand out. Rather than opting for a generic fantasy dungeon, Team Zeroth has placed its puzzle adventure beneath Salvador, Bahia, creating an underground world inspired by the Brazilian city.
Its pixel-art presentation gives the labyrinth a colourful, distinctive identity, while the mystery surrounding Bôni’s predicament provides a reason to keep pushing deeper into the interconnected world.
Time To Take The Plunge
Plungeez looks like an appealing option for anyone who enjoys puzzle games that let them explore at their own pace. Its combination of non-linear exploration, environmental puzzles and Metroidvania-style progression means there’s no need to worry about remembering which sword works against which monster.
Instead, you’ll be worrying about pipes, walls, plungers and whatever strange puzzle Team Zeroth has left around the next corner.
Plungeez is out now on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One for £8.39 from the Xbox Store, alongside PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch versions.
Sometimes the best way out of a sewer is simply to stop looking for the exit and start figuring out how everything fits together.
