EN JUN 28, 2026 •
3 min read

Shouldermen: Optimizing Your Voice-Controlled Puzzle Experience

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Quick Summary

Shouldermen is a unique voice-controlled puzzle game where players converse with AI angels and devils to solve word puzzles. Key 'settings' revolve around choosing between voice and text input, and ensuring clear speech for optimal voice recognition. The game's speech-to-text technology has been updated for improved accuracy and speed.

◈ Navigation Index ▼
  • 01 Understanding Shouldermen's Core Gameplay
  • 02 Input Methods: Voice vs. Text
  • 03 Optimizing Voice Control
  • 04 Audio Settings and Preferences
  • 05 Early Access and Future Improvements

Main Content

"Shouldermen" is a distinctive puzzle game developed by Outdoor Devs and published by FCF Studios, where your voice serves as the primary controller. Players engage in real-time conversations with AI-powered angel and devil characters, with the goal of getting them to speak a secret password to escape their virtual reality prisons. The fate of humanity hinges on freeing these moral guides. Given its unique voice-controlled nature, the 'best settings' for Shouldermen primarily focus on optimizing your interaction with the game's advanced AI and speech recognition.

Understanding Shouldermen's Core Gameplay

At its heart, Shouldermen is a dialog-driven puzzle game. You use your microphone to converse with AI characters, powered by GPT-5, meaning every conversation is unique and dynamic. The challenge lies in steering the conversation to make the character say a specific password without them realizing it. The game also features custom AI voices provided by Eleven Labs, offering distinct and expressive personalities for the angel and devil.

Input Methods: Voice vs. Text

The most critical 'setting' choice in Shouldermen is your preferred input method:

  • Voice-Controlled Gameplay: The game is designed for natural spoken interaction, making your voice the main way to play. This immersive approach allows for real-time conversations with the AI characters.
  • Text Input Alternative: For players who prefer not to use voice, or for those who might experience issues with voice recognition, the game offers a text input option. This allows players to type their responses instead of speaking them.

    • Optimizing Voice Control

    For players opting for voice control, ensuring clear and effective communication with the game's AI is paramount. While early versions of the game's voice recognition were noted as CPU-based and could sometimes misinterpret words, the AI was designed to be smart enough to understand the player's intent. Notably, the speech-to-text software has been upgraded to Deepgram, resulting in faster and more accurate transcription.

    To optimize your voice control experience:

  • Microphone Quality: Using a clear microphone can enhance the accuracy of the speech-to-text system.
  • Clear Articulation: Speaking clearly and at a moderate pace can help the game's AI better understand your input.
  • Push-to-Talk: The game has seen bug fixes related to its push-to-talk feature, suggesting this is a viable option for controlling when your voice input is active.

    • Audio Settings and Preferences

    While specific granular audio settings are not detailed in available information, it's known that the AI voices for the characters are an integral part of the experience. However, the game allows players to disable these voices if they prefer. This flexibility can cater to player preferences regarding immersion and accessibility.

    Early Access and Future Improvements

    "Shouldermen" is currently available in Early Access on Steam, meaning its development is ongoing and influenced by player feedback. The core voice-controlled gameplay loop is fully functional, and new content and features are being added. The price of the game is lower during Early Access and is expected to increase as more content is integrated. This early access model suggests that 'best settings' might evolve as the game receives updates and refinements based on community input.

    As a puzzle game heavily reliant on AI interaction and voice input, traditional 'best settings' like graphical configurations or combat sensitivities, common in other genres, are not applicable here. The focus for an optimal experience in Shouldermen lies in effectively utilizing its unique communication mechanics.

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    [ System Notice ]

    This content was generated by AI. Information may be unverified and could have changed due to game updates. Verify critical data before proceeding.

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    FAQ Database

    Q.01 What kind of game is Shouldermen?
    ▼

    Shouldermen is a voice-controlled puzzle game where players converse with AI characters (an angel and a devil) to solve word puzzles and help them escape a virtual reality prison.

    Q.02 How do I control the game?
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    The primary control method is your voice, through real-time spoken conversations with the AI characters. There is also an alternative text input option if you prefer typing.

    Q.03 Are there specific graphics settings I need to adjust?
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    No, as a dialog-driven puzzle game, Shouldermen does not feature traditional graphics settings or combat-oriented controls like sensitivity. The focus is on voice interaction.

    Q.04 Has the voice recognition improved since the game's release?
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    Yes, the speech-to-text software has been upgraded to Deepgram, which has made it faster and more accurate than its initial CPU-based version.

    Q.05 Can I turn off the AI voices?
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    Yes, the AI voices for the characters are optional and can be disabled if you prefer.

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