Review: Is This Seat Taken Makes Logic Puzzles Approachable

Each Is This Seat Taken scenario is a multi-part puzzle in the game. So as an example, the tutorial mission in Barcelona involves a cab ride. You’ll get tasks like two passengers saying “I want to be by the window” or Nat wanting to sit next to Alexis, Alexis wanting to be by the window, and Rei wanting to be by a window. Eventually, these situations will get more complex. For example, said cab leads to a level set in a movie theater. Some characters will be holding popcorn. This means that in the first round, all the seats are clean. In the second part, any character who held popcorn will have left popcorn at their seat, making it dirty. From that second part onward, you’ll get some people who will refuse to sit in a dirty seat, but also might want to be next to a specific person or in a certain row. It keeps building. 

The thing I noticed is, Is This Seat Taken isn’t a terribly challenging game. I mean, it didn’t seem that way to me. (Perhaps I’m just good at these types of logic puzzles?) It’s more about experiencing silly or relatable situations and enjoying coming up with solutions. Which isn’t a bad thing! This feels like a low-pressure type of title. It still might make a player think a bit, especially once you get to New York. For example, there’s a situation involving a train that factors in sitting in the direction the vehicle is going or not, being around an air conditioner, not near people making noise, sitting alone or with someone, possibly avoiding smelly folks, and arranging baggage. 

Once thing I did notice ended up being an issue, primarily because I experienced a power outage where I live while playing, is that there’s no way to save in the middle of a level. Is This Seat Taken is generally pretty user-friendly, and it is easy to highlight someone to see their conditions. But I didn’t see a way to save while in the middle of a stage. So you need to be able to power through all four-to-five parts in a stage or the next time you play, you’ll start off again at the start of it.

Some minor quality-of-life ideas aside, Is This Seat Taken is a relaxed game filled with generally pleasant logic puzzles. Is it as difficult as I would have liked? No. However, the experience is so pleasant and the concept is so strong that I felt fine with not being really pushed to work out complex solutions. The concept is great. It looks quite stylish. It’s just fun. 

Is This Seat Taken is available on the Switch, PC, and the game is on mobile devices as well.