Snipperclips: Cut It Out, Together! is a puzzle game about scissors. Two players, each controlling a pair of scissors, cut shapes out of each other until they can fit through a hole. That is the whole premise. It sounds simple. It is simple. It is also, in its best moments, the most elegant multiplayer experience on the Switch.
The game was released in 2017 for the Nintendo Switch, and it remains a standout example of what a small team can do with a single idea. The concept comes from Joy Joule, a studio founded by ex-Nintendo employees. The result is a game that feels both familiar and entirely new, a puzzle box that rewards patience and communication over button-mashing.
Trailer, via Nintendo of America.
The Scissors Are the Point
Each player controls a pair of scissors, represented as a pair of connected shapes that can be rotated and moved around the screen. The goal is to cut away parts of your own shape and your partner’s shape until you can fit through a small opening. The catch is that you can only cut parts of your own shape, not the other player’s. So you have to work together, cutting away pieces that block both of you, while leaving enough of each shape to hold together.
The puzzles start easy. A small opening, a big shape, a few cuts. Then the levels add obstacles: walls that move, shapes that shift, openings that require timing. The difficulty curve is gentle but steady, and the game never feels unfair. Each failure teaches you something about the shape you are working with, and the solution rarely feels arbitrary.
The game is built around cooperation, and that is where it succeeds most. There is no way to win without talking to your partner. You need to communicate which parts of the shape are safe to cut, which parts are blocking the opening, and which parts are holding the shape together. The game encourages you to think about the problem as a shared task, not as a race.
“Cut It Out, Together!”
Playing Together Is the Whole Game
Snipperclips: Cut It Out, Together! is a local multiplayer game, and it was designed with couch play in mind. There is no online mode, no leaderboards, no ranked matches. The game exists purely to bring two people into the same room, sit side by side, and solve problems together. That focus is refreshing in an era where almost every game is chasing some form of competitive ranking.
The game supports two players on one Switch, each with a Joy-Con controller. The controls are simple: rotate, move, cut. There is no aiming, no buttons to remember, no menus to navigate. The simplicity is deliberate. It lets the focus stay on the problem in front of you, not on the mechanics of the game.
The puzzles are designed to be solved in a matter of seconds, but some of them require careful planning and multiple attempts. The game does not punish you for failing, but it does reward you for thinking ahead. The best puzzles feel like a conversation between two players, each suggesting a cut, each responding to the other’s suggestion, until the solution emerges naturally.
The Joy Joule Story
Joy Joule is a small studio founded by ex-Nintendo employees. The game’s design reflects that history. It is a pure, focused experience, with no filler content and no distractions. The game is short, and every minute of that time is spent solving puzzles.
The studio’s background shows in the attention to detail. The game looks simple, but it is polished. The animations are smooth, the sound effects are satisfying, and the color palette is bright without being overwhelming. The game is a joy to look at, even when you are stuck on a difficult puzzle.
The game also has a sense of humor. The characters are expressive, and the game responds to your actions with small animations and sound effects. When you make a clever cut, the game reacts with a small cheer. When you fail, it reacts with a small sigh. These touches might seem minor, but they make the game feel personal, like the game is playing along with you.
Puzzle Design
The puzzle design is the heart of Snipperclips: Cut It Out, Together!, and it is where the game shines brightest. The puzzles are structured around a few core ideas:
- Cutting away parts of your own shape to create a smaller shape
- Cutting away parts of the other player’s shape to create a path
- Timing the cuts to avoid blocking each other
- Using the environment to guide the shape through the opening
The puzzles are presented in a series of levels, each with a single opening to reach. The levels are short, typically lasting only a minute or two, but they are dense with ideas. Some levels require you to cut away large parts of your shape, while others require you to preserve a single small part. The variety keeps the game fresh, even after dozens of levels.
The game also includes a sandbox mode, where you can create your own puzzles and share them with friends. This mode adds replay value beyond the main campaign. It allows you to experiment with the mechanics and create your own challenges, which can be shared with other players online.
Why It Works
Snipperclips: Cut It Out, Together! works because it takes a simple idea and pushes it to its logical conclusion. The game does not add extra features or modes. It does not try to be anything other than a puzzle game. That focus is rare, and it is what makes the game so effective.
The game also benefits from its hardware. The Switch’s split-screen capabilities mean that two players can see the same screen, which is essential for this kind of cooperative puzzle. The game would not work as well on a console that requires two screens, because the shared view is part of the experience.
The game is also accessible. Anyone can pick it up and understand the rules within minutes. The difficulty curve is gentle, and the game never punishes you for making mistakes. It is a game that can be enjoyed by children and adults alike, and it can be played for a few minutes or for a few hours.
The Limits
Snipperclips: Cut It Out, Together! is not a perfect game. The lack of online play means you need a second person in the same room to enjoy it, which limits its appeal for players who live far from their friends. The game also does not include a story or narrative elements, which some players might find disappointing.
The game also relies heavily on the two-player dynamic. It is less fun when played solo, and the puzzles are designed with two players in mind. The game can be played by one person, but it is not designed for that experience.
The game also does not include a lot of content. The main campaign is short, and the sandbox mode is the only additional content. The game does not include a lot of replayable content, which can be disappointing for players who want to keep playing after finishing the main campaign.
Final Word
Snipperclips: Cut It Out, Together! is a game that understands its own purpose. It is a puzzle game about cooperation, and it delivers on that promise. The game is a joy to play with a friend, and it is a pleasure to watch. It is a game that rewards patience, communication, and creativity.
The game is not without flaws. Its lack of online play and limited replayability will frustrate some players. But for those who can play it with a friend, it is a game worth playing. It is a game that deserves its reputation as one of the best multiplayer games on the Switch.
The game is a reminder that sometimes the simplest ideas are the best ones. A pair of scissors, a shape, a hole, and a friend. That is all you need. And it turns out, that is enough.
Key Facts
– Developer: Joy Joule
– Release: 2017
– Platform: Nintendo Switch
– Players: 1-2 (local only)
– Genre: Puzzle game
– Score: 8 of 10
