At this year’s PAX South, I got to play a cooperative puzzle game called Death Squared created by SMG Studio. In Death Squared, each player controls a bot who is trying to escape a laboratory, but with every move comes the chance that a trap will be triggered and a fellow companion will be doomed. To pass each stage, all characters must reach their respective portals unharmed.

Death Squared is a unique puzzler that plays well as a couch cooperative game for up to 4 players. It requires a stable amount of communication between every participant as you uncover each level’s unique rules. This further enhances the game as your team makeup plays into the trial and error nature of the puzzles. One can easily see these dynamics making the game a speed runner’s dream. It’s refreshing to see a game full of laughs and creative destruction that can also bring people together.

Death Squared will be available on March 14th on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, and Mac. The PlayStation 4 version will feature online multiplayer via the Share Play functionality.