Viewfinder is based on mapping the images contained in photographs or other two-dimension works onto the three-dimensional space of the game's world, creating new geometries and layouts.

Viewfinder started off as an experiment by indie game developer Matt Stark around November 2019.

At the time, while the player could explore the placed area from the photo, they could not interact with objects within that world.

This initial work drew attention across social media, leading Stark to begin considering a game that utilized the "Polaroid Effect" as he called it.

[9] Prior to release, Viewfinder won the UKIE UK Game of the Show held at the 2021 Gamescom.