A Firm Handshake

Ever stumbled upon a game that’s both weird and wonderful? That’s exactly what A Firm Handshake brings to the table. Created by indie developer Torfi, this free Windows game is a surreal, atmospheric action experience born out of the strange times of COVID 19 lockdowns when even a simple handshake felt like a distant memory.

In the game, you step into the polished shoes of a businessman in a brown suit, wandering through a bland office space filled with other suited figures. Your mission? Shake hands. Every time you do, that person starts following you like a corporate conga line. The goal changes with each level, but the vibe stays consistently dreamlike and slightly off kilter.

Getting started is a breeze: just download the ZIP, extract it, and fire up the EXE. Movement is handled with the arrow keys simple and intuitive. As you roam, you’ll notice subtle details: potted plants break up the monotony of beige walls, and the echo of your own footsteps is pretty much the only sound keeping you company. It’s minimalist, but intentionally so.

Level one is all about gathering your flock shake hands until you’ve got a crew of about ten followers. Level two throws a curveball: rows of sumo wrestlers stand between you and your handshake targets. Dodge them, make the shake, and believe it or not they’ll actually applaud you. Level three? Pure awkwardness. Everyone you approach turns away to shake someone else’s hand. And level four begins with an alarm clock you wake up in a bedroom, only to jump right back into the handshake hustle.

Torfi also created another game called Painting Lacy, which explores work life balance in a more detailed, challenging format. But where Painting Lacy demands focus and speed, A Firm Handshake is more of a moody, short lived experience. It’s not tough except maybe weaving through those sumos and you can finish the whole thing in under 15 minutes. Don’t expect to replay it, but for a one time mental escape? It’s a fun, quirky way to kill time before your next Zoom meeting.