A puzzle game where you must avoid the doing the most awkward of things: facing someone while riding an elevator
Rock Paper Shotgun has covered “How To Ride Elevators Like A Human,” a puzzle game that takes aim at one of modern office life’s most universal social awkwardnesses: the unspoken etiquette of elevator rides.
The game places players in the role of a helpful alien tasked with assisting people who have found themselves in uncomfortable elevator situations. The core mechanic revolves around the simple but relatable social rule that governs most people’s elevator behavior: avoid making direct eye contact or facing fellow passengers unless you’re already acquainted with them and actively conversing.
The premise satirizes the elaborate social dance that occurs in confined spaces like elevators, where unwritten rules dictate that riders should face forward toward the doors, maintain personal space, and generally avoid any interaction beyond the occasional nod. The game appears designed as a lighthearted commentary on modern office culture and interpersonal dynamics in shared spaces.
Described as a game “made for a certain CEO,” the title suggests a humorous commentary on workplace behavior and social conventions. The puzzle gameplay mechanics appear built around navigating these awkward social situations and helping characters avoid the uncomfortable scenario of making sustained eye contact or facing someone in an elevator—a moment most office workers instinctively avoid through phone checking or strategic positioning.