Moving Out is the newest party game published by Team17, set to rival Overcooked for the mayhem-inducing physics-based local-multiplayer crown. While the charm and appeal of Moving Out certainly mirrors Overcooked, beneath the surface beats a different rhythm.
Here, the name of the game is removals. You and up to three other players are tasked with moving fragile boxes, hefty furniture, and even livestock into a moving van before the timer runs out.
As you might expect, things aren’t easy. There are all manner of traps, hazards, and trials for you to navigate around on your way to the moving van.
Moving Out Review — So Many Ways To Move It, Move It
Sometimes ghosts will haunt the mansions you’re moving items from, chasing and stunning your movers, while smaller houses often have awkward twisting hallways that make moving a bed or sofa nearly impossible.
In these situations, grabbing the furniture with a partner and throwing it out of a window is often the best course of action — not to mention such teamwork is gleefully destructive fun, too. In fact, Moving Out is littered with destructible knick-knacks that make the world feel more interesting and alive.
Only specific items need to be packed during each level — though you can interact with pretty much everything you see — and hurling a chair at a nearby TV because it’s in the way of the table that you need is exactly the sort of bonkers nonsense that makes Moving Out so enjoyable.
To change things up, there are also dynamic levels that take place on moving vehicles, on a river — with passing logs, a la Frogger — and more. The level variety is actually really impressive considering the fairly limited scope of a moving company being the game’s conceit.
Much like Overcooked, there are three tiers of rating for each level — gold, silver, and bronze medals — but there are bonus objectives this time, too. Each level has three additional objectives, such as “break all the windows” or “jump over the pond,” which add a good level of replay value and competition.
Completing these objectives also unlocks Arcade levels that will test every fiber of your resolve and patience to complete.
Of course, not everyone will enjoy the level of challenge that Moving Out provides, and others still may struggle to compete under the standard ruleset. Thankfully, this is where the game’s fantastic accessibility options shine.
Moving Out features a wide array of accessibility options, from extending timers and level skips to single Joy-Con controls and less hazardous levels. Honestly, if I could only praise a single aspect of Moving Out, it would be the extensive lengths taken to improve accessibility.
The humor is another strong area for Moving Out; whether it’s the fact that you’re labeled a “Furniture Arrangement & Relocation Technician” (F.A.R.T) or the 80’s-themed instructional videos, it’s hard to keep a straight face while playing.
The catchy soundtrack is also wonderfully 80’s-inspired, with disco tracks that you’re sure to find yourself humming along to.
Moving Out Review — The Bottom Line
Pros:
- Like Overcooked, gameplay is fast-paced, frantic, and fun
- Wide range of accessibility options make Moving Out fun for everyone
- Clean aesthetic with surprisingly deep character customization options
Cons:
- Controls, mechanics, and level-designs can get a little frustrating, making some levels more of a slog than they should be
Unfortunately, not everything about Moving Out is a resounding success. Here, cooperation is far more important than in Overcooked. Heavy items will be difficult to fit into the moving van if they aren’t packed first, some items can’t be moved or thrown at all without a second helper, and so on.
Not being able to function efficiently in a conveyor belt fashion feels like a weakness in the game mechanics; Overcooked is equally insane and raucous, but any job can be undertaken by one person if the other chefs fall into lava or get distracted by a pack of thieving rats.
In Moving Out, however, there can be a lot of waiting around for other players to return if they get caught by a ghost or walk a little too close to a passing car.
On the flip side, my partner found the increased emphasis on teamwork more engaging and this is now her preferred party game, so your mileage may vary.
Whatever your preference is, Moving Out certainly provides the same flavor of co-operative tension and burst-out-loud laughter as Overcooked. With 30+ levels in varied environments on top of tons of bonus objectives to strive for, there’s lots to enjoy in this entertaining party hit.
[Note: A copy of Moving Out Was provided by Team 17 for the purpose of this review.]
