Introduction
[Introduce Handshakes, the puzzle Sokoban game developed by Na, published on Steam in 2018]Handshakes is a delightful and clever puzzle game available on Steam for $4.99. Developed by indie developer Na and released in 2018, Handshakes has you guiding two floating white hands through increasingly tricky grid-based puzzles on their quest to meet up and share the ultimate handshake.
With simple movement but complex solutions, Handshakes will really get your brain working through over 30 confounding yet satisfying levels. This walkthrough guide will provide step-by-step solutions plus tips and tricks for getting those hands to finally greet!
Gameplay Overview
Handshakes belongs to the Sokoban genre of puzzle games, which involve strategically moving pieces around on a grid to achieve certain objectives.
Specifically in Handshakes, you control two disembodied Right and Left hand avatars floating over square grids of various dimensions. You can move each hand independently up, down, left or right using either WASD keys (Left hand) or arrow keys (Right hand), one grid space at a time.
The hands cannot overlap each other’s path or occupy the same grid spot. You may also encounter potholes or barriers that prevents progress unless filled or removed.
Each puzzle level presents an initial layout, with the goal to maneuver both Right and Left hands so they end up adjacent to complete the coveted handshake greeting.
With no time limits or penalties, you truly can stop and think through the sequence of moves required. Handshakes encourages patience and creativity in finding unique solutions.
While individual levels seem simple enough, the puzzles can escalate rapidly in complexity! This walkthrough aims to demonstrate helpful step-by-step explanations so you won‘t be left hanging.
Level Layout Legend
Before diving into the solutions, let’s clarify the movement legend used in this Handshakes walkthrough guide:
Left:
= WASD keys
U = Up
D = Down
L = Left
R = Right
Right:
= Arrow keys
U = Up
D = Down
L = Left
R = Right
So for example, “Left: R” means press the Right arrow key to move the Left hand avatar right.
Alright, let‘s get this handshake started!
Walkthrough Solutions
Levels 00 – 09
Level 00
Left: URRRD DLDDR
Right: ULLLD DRDDL LLL
Level 01
Right: LLDUL LLL
Left: R
Level 02
Right: LLLL
Left: RRRRUR
Level 03
Left: DRDRR DDUUL
Right: ULLDD DDLLU LULDU RDLL
Level 04
Right: ULDUR DLDUD LL
Level 05
Left: LUUL
Right: RRUUU ULLLR RRDD
Left : RRRRU ULLLR RRDDL LLUUL LRRDD RRRRR
Right: L
Level 06
Right: LUUL
Left: RRDDD D
Right: DUL
Left: RRDDD LL
Right: DDLLL
Left: RRDDD R
Level 07
Right: LD
Left: RRRRR
Right: ULLLU UDDLL
Left: RRDDR
Level 08
Left: LULLD LL
Right: RR
Left: RRURR DLLLR RDDDR
Right: L
Level 09
Right: L
Left: RRR
Right: RDDDD LUDRU LUUDD
Left: RRRR
Levels 10 – 19
Level 10
Right: RULRD LUUUUL
Left: UUUUD DDLL
Right: DDLDU RDDLL LLLRR R
Left : RRDRR ULRDL ULLRR RR
Right: LL
Level 11
Right: UUUL
Left: DRRRR DDLLL L
Right: DUL
Left: DRRRU URRR
Right: L
Level 12
Right: D
Left: RRR
Right: UD
Left: RRR
Right: ULLLUL
Left: DD
Right: UUDDD LL
Left: UR
Level 13
Left: L
Right: LL
Left: RUR
Right: UURUU LLLLD
Level 14
Left : D
Right: LLLDL LUL
Left: URURD UL
Right: UUUUL LL
Left : DRRRR ULRDL ULLRR RR
Right: UUUUL
Level 15
Right: URRDD LDURU ULLD
Left: DRRRU DL
Right: RRDDL LDL
Level 16
Left: L
Right: ULLLU U
Left : RUUUU RRRRD LRULD LRULL LDDDD L
Right: ULLLU U
Left: RL
Right: ULLLU U
Left : RUUUU RRRLD RLULL DRLDD DDRRR R
Right: DLL
Level 17
Right: ULLLD
Left: DRRRU U
Right: RRRDD DLDDL L
Left: LLLDD DRRRR R
Level 18
Left: UUUR
Right: DDULL LLLDD RRRRR LLLLL UURRR RRDDD DLLLL UDRRR RUULL DULLL LRRDD RRRRL LLLLL LL
Left: LDDDD DRR
Level 19
Left: RR
Right: DDDDD L
Left: LR
Right: LLDDL L
Left : LLULU UURRD DDUUU LLDDD RDRUU URRUU RR
Levels 20 – 29
Level 20
Left: DDRRR LLLRR R
Right: LLL
Level 21
Left: R
Right: LLDLL LLRRR RURRD DDLLD LUL
Left: RDRRR R
Right: L
Left: LLLLU LLDDD RRRLD RLULL UUURR URRRR RR
Right: LUL
Level 22
Right: DLLL
Left: DULL
Right: UULLL
Left : RUUUD DDRRU RR
Right: UUL
Level 23
Left : ULLDD RDRRR UDLLL ULUUR UURRR RRRDR
Right: RRRU
Level 24
Right: DLLLL LL
Left: RRRUR
Right: RLRL
Left: RRRUD LLL
Right: RRLRR RLRRR UULLL LL
Left: RR
Level 25
Left: UURDU LDDRU U
Right: LDDLL L
Left: DDRRR RRRLL LLLLU UDDRR RRRR
Right: LLL
Level 26
Left : LLDDL LRRUU RR
Right: DDRRU DLLUU LLLRR RRRR
Left: UURRR RRRRL L
Right: UUDDL LL
Left: DULLL LLDLL DDRDR R
Right: DLLLL
Level 27
Right: URRRR RDLRU RRRDL LRRUL LLLLL LLLUL URRRR LLLLD RDRRR RRDRL ULLD
Left: RRR
Right: URRDL RU
Left: RRRR
Right: RRRDL LRRUR RRUUU LDURD DDLLL LLDRR RRRUU ULDUR DDLLL RRRDL LLLLU LLDRR RRULL RRDLL URRRR DLLRR UUULL L
Left: RR
Level 28
Right: RUR
Left: LULDD D
Right: LDLLD LUDRR DLRUL URRDR U
Left: UUURD RRDRU D
Right: DD
Left: LULLL DRRRL LLDDD RRRRR R
Right: DDLLL LL
Level 29
Left: DRD
Right: URRRR
Left: U
Right: LDDLL
Left: RDUR
Right: LLULL L
Left : UUDDL ULULL UUURR RRRR
Right: DURRR UUULL LLL
Tips and Tricks for Handshakes
Here are some helpful pointers to keep in mind while working through Handshakes:
- Take it slow! Don’t rush moves without thinking ahead a few steps first
- Identify the ultimate goal positions first, then reverse engineer the path backwards
- Fill gaps methodically and clear obstructions carefully
- Each hand can have different roles – one to hold position while the other maneuvers
- Experiment with moves even if you hit dead-ends; restarting is only a couple clicks away
With some spatial reasoning skills and flexible thinking, you‘ll get those hands greeting in no time!
About Handshakes Developer Na
Handshakes was created as an indie passion project by developer Na, who has crafted a number of innovative experimental games over the past decade.
Hailing from Japan and now based in Berlin, Germany, Na focuses on creating abstract and minimalist yet deeply engaging experiences. Steam users highlight Na‘s ability to build richness, humor, and even emotion through pure shape and form.
Past Na titles in a similar vein to explore include Atrap and Passengers – imaginative and clever spatial puzzles with a touch of the surreal. We can hopefully expect more clever concepts from Na on Steam or other platforms to continue this legacy of unique handmade puzzle games.
Give Handshakes a try and drift into Na‘s world to witness how creative videogames can be! This walkthrough will help you handshake your way to the end with a dose of satisfying mental exercise.
Related Games If You Like Handshakes
Want more great indie spatial puzzlers after conquering Handshakes? Here are some recommended Steam titles in a similar thought-provoking vein:
- A Little to the Left – arrange everyday objects into satisfying patterns
- Garden of Banban – deftly roll spheres towards goals by manipulating the landscapes
- Unpacking – uncover stories by correctly placing items into room layouts
- Islanders – build minimalist towns on islands through careful construction placement
- Dorfromantik – strategic tile placements to generate serene countryside vistas
If you enjoy the aha moments from optimizing moves in Handshakes, these gems offer similar satisfaction wrapped in stylish packages!
Closing Thoughts
I hope this comprehensive Handshakes walkthrough guide gave you the helpful tips and solutions needed to get those hands happily shaking by the finale!
Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions or ideas related to Handshakes or its clever developer Na. And consider sharing this post if it helped you conquer those tricky puzzles on your own journey through this unique game.
Now get to greeting – the Right and Left hands of Handshakes await your strategic maneuvers!
