A Dark Room

Created by Doublespeakgames

2 hours 

Haven't written for a bit, was starting to worry that I wasn't really finding any games worth blogging about until I found this gem from doublespeak games. 

Taking minimalism to new heights - this is the first screen for "A Dark Room":

You start the fire. You try to keep the fire going. You need to get more wood to to keep the fire going. There is no telling where you are or what you have to do apart from just keep stoking the fire. The room gets warmer. Suddenly a stranger hurtles through the doorway and collapses in the corner. It is freezing outside apparently. She does nothing for a while as you find you need to collect more wood, a new option appears for you to visit the forest outside. When you have gathered more wood, the person has thawed and says she can build things, and if you build more things, people will come.

This is the beginning of a seriously EPIC adventure in text form. You have no idea what is coming next but as you figure out the game's rhythms and try to balance your resources, you slowly become obsessed by it, collecting things you don't know the use for (yet) and consumed by a burning desire to build and learn more things.

I'll give you some carrots for perseverance. 1 - there is a map. 2. If you play your cards right you'll see the stars. 

From zero to space hero in the most minimal way possible. This is evolution at it's finest. JP :)

ALZ

Created by Dyl

Music by Broove

2 mins 

This is ALZ, a brief but moving encounter with a world of ever increasing confusion and gentle but horrible suffering. Warning: spoilers ahead so if you want the full experience play ALZ now before reading on.

I thought it would be better to write a little more - I'm actually feeling slightly choked up as I write this, and I have no experience of people with Alzheimers (did you get the clue in the name?) The poor guy! It's amazing how I got from "lah dee dah, what's going to happen" to a dejected "...oh..." in under 2 mins.  

This is not a game. This is not interactive art. There's nothing to do here but join in with the sad story of someone losing his mind. It's important to say that much of the pathos created is because of a fantastic soundtrack by Broove, who I will shortly be asking to join my music library :)

In the words of the author - "have a forgotten, but hopefully not forgetful, experience". - JP

Momiga (The Most Minimal Game Ever)

Created by Rogerio Penchel

2 mins (more if you're not very good at pressing one button) 

See this screenshot above? That's the most un-minimal screen in the game. Most of the time you'll see this:

Ya, deal with it. The reason why I've included Momiga is because it's actually very fun and eminently re-playable. An immense achievement for a game comprising of one button and one dot. Should I tell you what happens to the dot? Nah, let's keep it minimal :)

Treasure Box 

Created by Nanahiro Wada 

About 5 mins (longer if you can't read music).

Ever wanted to PLAY the beginning of a Monty Python's Flying Circus? Well now you can with Treasure Box, created by Nanahiro Wada. It took me a while to track him down, but I really do recommend clicking his name above and catching a glimpse of his world - it's a good world and certainly very wacky. 

Anyway I won't dwell here too much. Treasure box is exactly what it says on the tin, it also has an ageless feel that adds to the inward pleasure of this interactive visual feast. If you can't read music it might take you slightly longer, but only slightly. Enjoy the game :) - JP 

ImmorTall 

Created by Evan Miller 

About 5 - 20 mins

I realise that if I'm not careful, I'm going to end up with a blog that is full of thinky games that sort of leave people confused and a little depressed. Actually that thought makes me pretty cheerful. 

"How do you WIN?!?" scream the forums around this particular game. Well you er, don't and that it seems, is the point here.

ImmorTall has been around for a while and unlike the tortured genius and complex existential mechaniss of Infinite Ocean, or vastly researched playability of Oiligarchy. Creator Evan Miller has stumbled upon something profound with a game that only requires the use of your computer's left and right keys.   

You are a wormy alien crashed on earth and discovered by a little girl. Her and her brother feed you and you grow much bigger, you then are taken in by her family. All would be calm and peaceful in the forest if it weren't for the rest of humanity, who aren't friendly at all, callously shooting through the family to get at you. But you are big, strong and tall. Big enough to shield others from mortars and bullets, or big enough to try and outrun attacks without protecting the family which nurtured you, or big enough to turn tail and leave the earth behind completely. 

There's a quiet and grave dignity about ImmorTall that sets it aside from most games, in fact many will question whether it is a game at all. From the atonal soundtrack and sfx to the slick yet emotive silhouetted graphical style, Immortal is a 3 minute experience that will leave you wondering who the real monsters are. Also it will test your character (as an alien) in terms of how far you are willing to go to protect those you care for. Love - an altogether human concept - is portrayed by an alien with a subtle variety of consequences and endings.  

There is a surprising amount of thought in the simple AI personalities ascribed to each of the family, when someone dies certain members will grieve, oblivious in their tears to the danger around them (which is stressful since you may be trying desperately to keep them alive). Other members seem bullheaded and cowardly at the same time, willing to put others in danger but at the first sign of trouble retreating behind other family members.  

Many people have come away from this games feeling a little downtrodden and wistful about the human condition. If this is the case with you then welcome to the club; ImmorTall is an experience where it can be said that rather than you playing the game, the game plays you. Sucker :)

Freedom Bridge

Created by Jordan Magnuson 

About 2 mins

Well this is the first game that started me thinking - "Well I play so many of these damned little flash games that it would be silly not to share what I've found, maybe others with like em too". We start off my little casual gaming blog with Freedom Bridge, a "Notgame" by Jordan Magnuson. That's all I'm going to tell you. Ok, I'll tell you a little more. I never knew I could care about a moving dot until it started bleeding.