Free animated handshake game
Screenshots
Torfi is the developer for A Firm Handshake, a free game for Windows that’s classified as an atmospheric, surreal action game. The ban on physical contact due to Covid-19 inspired this short game.
Playing as a businessman dressed in a brown suit, you approach other business people and shake their hands. They will then start to follow you closely. Depending on the level, you’ll face different challenges while trying to reach these businessmen. An alternative game is Painting Lacy, an exploration of work-life balance.
Download, install and play
Download the ZIP file for the game and extract the contents. Double click the EXE file to install and play the game. In order to move around, you’ll need to use the arrow keys. You’ll explore a brown office environment with a few potted plants sprinkled here and there. The main sound that you’ll hear while playing is the sound of footsteps.
In level one, you shake hands with every other business person you meet. They follow you as you look for more of them. This level continues until you have gathered about ten of them.
In level two, rows of sumo wrestlers block your way. They try to catch you so that you can’t shake hands with the businessman on the other side. When you succeed, they all clap for you.
Level three gives you a feeling of rejection since every person you want to shake with turns away from you to shake with someone else.
Level four starts with the sound of an alarm and you standing next to a bed. As you start moving, you’ll meet and shake hands with a business person.
A Firm Handshake vs Painting Lacy
Both games create a similar, surreal atmosphere. A Firm Handshake is a simple game with just a few challenges. The hardest part is to get through the rows of sumo wrestlers. If you get caught, you’ll need to keep on trying until you’re through. It’s a short game with only four levels.
Painting Lacy has a more detailed environment and is more challenging. You have to solve different challenges, but it’s time-sensitive, making it harder to succeed.
Need to kill a few minutes?
Do you need to kill some time waiting for a Zoom call to start? A Firm Handshake can be a distraction to pass the time. It takes about ten to fifteen minutes to complete and it’s doubtful that you would like to play it more than once.
