Moving Out is a physics-based puzzle game developed by DevM Games and SMG Studio that brings a whole new meaning to the term "couch co-op". Released on April 28, 2020 for Steam, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One the game has you take on the roll of one to four new employees of Smooth Moves to become Furniture Arrangement & Relocation Technicians and help the residents of the town of Packmore...move out! The players can use whatever moves are needed to help pack objects even if it means breaking the rules and making a mess.
A new update was announced in January, 2021 called Moving In which includes twelve new levels where the player must empty a truck of items and place the items back into the level.
On August 24, 2022 a sequel was annnounced that added online play. It is set to be released on August 15, 2023.
We're packing and moving out these Tropes!:
- Final Boss: Yes, there is a final boss in a game about moving furniture. The final story stage involves 'fighting' a Humongous Mecha piloted by a Pack Rat.
- Fun with Acronyms: Employees of the Smooth Moves moving company are called Furniture Arrangement & Relocation Technicians.
- Lampshade Hanging: In Packmore River the game reminds you that (even though the stage is based off of Frogger) there are no extra lives, except those of employees that would replace you should you be killed on the job.
- No OSHA Compliance: Asides from loading screen suggestions like "Lift with your back, not your legs!", Smooth Moves Co. encourages reckless and dangerous behaviour like throwing heavy furniture out windows and down slopes. Some of the later stages involve moving platforms, acidic liquid (that may or may not be guava juice), laser beams, and flamethrowers.
- Painting the Medium: Smooth Moves' company training video is from the company's founding in 1982 and is seen playing on an old VHS tape, in fact they taped over somebody's wedding video when they made it.
- The Pollyanna: The FARTs are consistently cheerful and peppy despite their employer constantly taking advantage of them and disregarding their safety. Judging by some the comments made by the player characters, the movers haven't had a decent vacation or even a break in ages.
- Shout-Out:
- During the Mandatory Training level, when the player is taught how to deal with ghosts the voiceover from the company training video shouts phrases like "Don't cross the beams", "Who you gonna call?" and "I ain't afraid of no ghosts!"
- Packmore River is clearly a reference to Frogger. The player has to move furniture across a river using objects like logs and crocodiles to cross. There's even an optional objective that involves guiding a frog from one side of the river to the other.
- Super Drowning Skills: Falling into water instantly kills the player, forcing them to respawn.
- You Dirty Rat!: The true identity of the Mystery Client are Pack Rats, a group of enormous, intelligent rats that steal people's furniture.
- Wreaking Havok: You can be as careless and reckless as you want when picking up and moving items. You get extra points for shooting boxes like a basketball and for breaking windows.
