Game-a-Day Challenge 2022
I will probably not be playing any Mario games, but who knows.
As September approached, I thought of Game - a - Day with both excitement and fear (which are basically the same thing). I absolutely loved doing Game-a-Day last year, and found it so fulfilling in finding small gems in the endless ocean that is games. But there’s a really big difference because G-A-D this year, and G-A-D last year: I have a job.
It was incredibly easy to find a game and play it at nearly any time of the day. I still picked shorter games because I wanted to emphasize how great short games are, but I knew I didn’t have to worry about fitting them into my schedule. Well, this year, I will. Who knew that daily challenges are much easier to accomplish when you have more free time?
Worry aside, I knew I had to do G-A-D, because I want to, full-time job be damned. And if anyone wants to join me, let me know on Twitter!
Here’s a brief breakdown,:
Play a short game, every day
That’s it! I was inspired by The Sealey Challenge, where you read a book of poetry a day. I thought, hey, if I could finish a book of poetry in a couple of hours, I can finish a game that takes a couple of hours to beat. So here we are. And with that, let’s get to the games!
Day 1: A Dice Meal
How Long to Beat: A couple minutes
Super Mario Party has a mini game called “Sizzling Stakes,” where you have to cook each side of a very, very, cubed piece of steak. When I play A Dice Meal, I think of that mini game, though mechanically they play so differently. Where “Sizzling Stakes” wants you to cook every side of the cube, A Dice Meal, wants you to make specific orders out of dice numbers. If a customer wants a 2, then you have to flip that dice as much (or as little) as you can, until that 2 appears. No need for evenness on all sides. Just get that greasy pan to flip that dice to a 2! It feels like a classic arcade game. As the timer (and tips) steadily decline, and orders get more difficult, it’s easy to see meaty dice flying all over the screen. My highest score was only $658, so I have to try again, and at least reach $1k.
Day 2: Shrine of Cards
How Long to Beat: ~20 minutes
I am so fascinated by deck building games. My knowledge of them is pretty low; As far as popular games go, I’ve only played Slay the Spire, and Dicey Dungeons. When Itch recommended Shrine of Cards to me, I had to try it! In Shrine of Cards, you have build a shrine with supplies while also defending yourself (and your shrine) from enemies. Every turn is a day, and after seven days, you can get a new card. It’s sort of like a tower defense in a way, in the sense that you’re defending your shrine. But instead of a wild onslaught of enemies, it’s like 5 at most. But those five enemies are tough. It felt like a genuine battle between keeping the enemies at bay, building my shrine, and then eventually rebuilding it when they destroyed all of my supplies. I loved it!
Day 3: Four Before Midnight
How long to beat: ~ 2 hours
I’ve been a fan of Res ever since I played Jam and the Mystery of the Mysteriously Spooky Mansion. Jam inspired me to make Murder at the Cat Show. So when I saw that Res made another game, Four Before Midnight, I knew I had to play it. Four Before Midnight follows a fairy godmother named Ivy who must complete the fairy tale task of making a happily-ever-after ending for her godchild, Hilda. Unfortunately, death, arson, and time travel are among the few things that are preventing her from making everyone’s dreams come true. The puzzles in the game are so fun, and if you’re like me and get stumped quickly, there are helpful hints (and a walkthrough!) to help you progress. It’s a very fun approach to classic fairy tale trope, full of vampires, fish heads, and blood! I highly recommend it!
Day 4: Gotta Protectors: Cart of Darkness
How Long to Beat: DNF
I don’t know if there’s a name for action games that cover every square inch of the screen with enemies, but regardless, that is what Gotta Protectors is. You gotta protect the princess, so is riding along in her moving castle as it slowly moves around a track. For the princess, his is like a child’s rollercoaster at an amusement part. But for the player, it’s an onslaught of ogres, minotaurs, bomb-throwing bears, vampires. It’s a lot of fun, especially with four players!
Bonus: Final Fantasy 4 Pixel Remaster
How Long to Beat: ~20 hours
While I did not start Final Fantasy 4 in September, I did beat it! My husband and I have been going through the pixel remasters, alternating between who plays what. So far I’ve played 1 and 4 (we skipped 2, sorry FF2 fans), and it’s so fascinating seeing the general progression of the games. 1 felt very stark with story, though it was absolutely there. 3 jumped in story and in jobs! And then 4 took everything it learned in 3 and jumped even farther. I see a lot of similarities between 3 and 4, but 4 feels a bit more refined as a game. I’m curious how 5 will stack up, considering 4 is a lot of people’s favorites!
Day 5: Dangerous Pricks
How Long to Beat: ~10 minutes or less
I recently came across a “Gay Western Game Jam” that happened in 2019. I’ve already played a few since finding the game jam, but I saved a few to play for later, including this game Dangerous Pricks. You’ve gotta seduce, threaten, or bribe your way around town, and hope that you can win every battle you come across before you lose your nerve. I love playing games made from game jams because it can show what you can do with limited time. Dangerous Pricks is a short and simple card game, but it’s still fun. It’s a nice reminder of why I wanted to do Game-a-Day in the first place.
Day 6: Tetris 99
How Long to Beat: ~ 15 minutes
I’m pretty sure Tetris 99 will show up for every Game-a-Day challenge I do. It’s such a great pick-up-and-play-for-10-minutes kind of game. It’s great for destressing, which is exactly what I needed it for today. There’s really nothing else to say about it. Tetris 99 is my comfort game. I’m so thankful I have it.
Day 8: BOT-BREAK!
How many attempts to beat: Three (Won of the third try!)
BOT-BREAK! is so, so fun. It’s classic pinball with a mech twist. I’d been keeping my eye on the MechJam III for a couple of reasons: 1) Game jams always have some great, short games, and 2) I’ve started playing a mecha anime-inspired tapletop game with friends, and so I wanted to see how other people approach mechs. With your mechball, you’ve got to attack the enemy robot. Chip away at its armor, one whack at a time, until it’s gone. But it’s not just a simple pinball game. You can earn shields, dodge missiles, and activate a button-mashing hyper mode. It’s a lot in a small game, and it’s packaged all so well. Highly recommend if you want some arcade fun.
Day 9: Lawn Buster for Hire
How Long to Beat: ~10 minutes
Lawn Buster for Hire is about a gardener tasked with tending to an overgrown garden. But unfortunately there’s a skeleton that wants to kill you, a horse that wants you to keep certain types of grass, and rent due in 45 days. That’s a lot of rules for this little gardener! There are also 5 different endings, so for a game as short as this, you might as well attempt to get them all!
Day 10: Lieutenant Bokit
How Long to Beat: ~5 minutes
If you know me then you know I love a nice murder mystery. I’ve made a few, and I love playing them. Lieutenant Bokit is really cool because you play as a kid who isn’t allowed to see the crime scene. So you have to use evidence outside of the scene to solve the case. The solution is pretty simple to get to, but the environment in the game is so fun to run around in. I’m inspired to try my hand at another murder mystery made it Bitsy.
Day 11: Vampire Curse
How Long to Beat: ~10 minutes
This is one of those games I could sink hours and hours into. Unfortunately for me, Vampire Curse only takes about 10 minutes or so to beat. You play as a vampire bat whose health is constantly draining because you need blood to survive. It’s fast paced and feels so good to glide around and slice down nearby blood-filled enemies. The project is labeled as a “prototype” probably because it doesn’t have any bosses or many levels, but it’s so polished, I would play it over and over again.
Day 12: Limited Space
How Long to Beat: ~10 minutes
Ever since the pandemic started, I’ve thought about the ways we’d see it in writing. More poems about being alone, short stories about closing stores or wearing masks. I knew that confessional spaces would have new stories surrounding life in a pandemic. But never did I think about how it’d show up in game narratives. Limited Space feels like a game that shows the personal effects of pandemic-forced solitude. It’s honest in how lonely it is to be stuck at home, but also a bit hopeful of the relationships we can find in this new landscape. One warning: there’s a moment where the alien pronounces their name, and it causes a bit of an auditory jumpscare. It’s kinda loud and scared the hell out of me. So watch out for that one.
Day 13: Can I Sleep Now?
Best Score: 27
My brain has been extremely over active lately, no doubt because I have a new job, and with a new job comes new responsibilities, new worries, new doubts, and new fears. So I decided to look for a game that reflects how I feel, and I found Can I Sleep Now, a game about dodging your unhelpful thoughts and collecting as many good vibes as you can. It actually works in quieting my mind and forcing myself to focus. How are you going to dodge bad thoughts if you’re stuck having bad thoughts!
Day 14: What You Take With You
How Long to Beat: ~ 5 minutes
Another game from MechJamIII! This one is a hidden objects / interactive fiction game called What You Take With You. Your mech has fulfilled its duty. It’s taken a beaten and can no longer be repaired, so you are tasked with taking all personal items out of your cockpit and leave your mech behind. It’s a short look into a mech pilot’s life. I loved looking around for each special item. It felt reminiscent to visiting my grandmother’s house and periodically looking for lost childhood items. I know they’re there, but where…? What You Take With You was a quiet, somber start to my morning, and I’m thankful for it! It’s a nice reminder to stay mindful of your time.
Day 15: A Red Boat
How Long to Beat: ~20 minutes
A Red Boat is so beautiful. You are a tiny red boat looking for letters scattered throughout the sea. The story is told through the letters you find. I love the white parts of the water look like ripped paper. I love sailing through the gorgeous water. I just really love this game.
Day 16: Red Trees
How Long to Beat: ~20 minutes
I absolutely love fetch quests. I love games that are a string of errands. It feels so satisfying to find an item and go “Oh, that’s for X” or “I wonder who this is for.” It has a mix of mystery, collection, and storytelling all in one. That is why I loved playing Red Trees. Something is lurking in the woods, but in order to get there, you have to help every person in this cute, quaint town. The game description suggests playing the game “in a well-lit room with a warm cup of tea at hand,” and I wholeheartedly agree!
Day 17: ClusterPuck
How Long I Played: ~2 hours
Today I went over to a friend’s house for a birthday party, and among the several games we played was ClusterPuck. It’s a favorite among the group. It’s sportsy but not too sportsy, chaotic but not to the point where it’s pointless to try to win. It’s a great party game that is incredibly easy to pick up. For anyone interested, we also played TowerFall, Snake Oil, and Warewords, but because I had some really good goals, I decided to use ClusterPuck for the Game-A-Day post.
Day 18: Dark Sign Demastered
How Long to Beat: ~10 minutes
If there are two things I absolutely love, it’s Bitsy and Demasters, and Dark Sign has both! A demade version of Dark Souls in Bitsy is such a fun challenge. Bitsy isn’t known for its action or combat, so finding a way around that is a really cool challenge. Also, I love the color palette. Blacks and different shades of greens are totally my thing.
Day 19: rolldown
How Many Floors?: 13
This fun little roguelike has you rolling a dice down a dungeon. If your dice number is higher than the eyes of the monster, than you win. It’s part action part puzzle, with a nice little hip hop beat. If it had just a wee bit more content, rolldown could easily be a game I could accidentally spent 100 hours playing. Update 9/20/2022 11:22pm : I made it to floor 14. Update 9/22/2022: I made it to floor 17.
Day 20: FTL: Faster Than Light
FTL: Faster Than Light / Subset Games
How Far Did I Get?: Sector 8
In college, I started a weird habit where, whenever I had a big thing coming up, I’d play FTL as sort of my good luck charm. I’d name my ship something like “S.S. Midterm” or “Writing Career.” For me, it wasn’t about winning the game (which is incredibly difficult to do) but about getting a new high score. If I could see “Writing Career” on the high score list, then that meant that I would have a good career. It’s very superstitious, and a little silly, but it’s something I enjoy doing. I haven’t played FTL in a few years. Today was a difficult day with a big decision I needed to make, so I decided to boot FTL up and name it after the thing I want. Lo and behold, I got a new high score. And, despite playing on hard, and being very rusty, I made it to the final sector. I don’t know why FTL is so sentimental to me, why it somehow pushes me to keep going, why I always put so much metaphor into this small roguelike, but I do. I love it. It makes me happy. (And the 10 year anniversary of FTL just passed! Happy birthday, FTL!)
Day 21: Bonnie’s Bakery
How Long to Beat: ~ 30 minutes
Okay, admittedly, I did not beat Bonnie’s Bakery. I had every intention toward doing it, but (And this is a bit of a spoiler - so beware if you’re avoiding those) unfortunately I do not do well with horror games. I knew, based off of the descriptions, that it would be a little spooky and have a little gore, but the way it utilizes horror elements spook me out too much! So instead, I watched a let’s play for the part that I didn’t have to courage to play myself. If you’re a fan of those “Super cutesy game until it’s suddenly not cute” then you’ll love this game. The cooking element was super fun and stressful! And the other half of the game (from what I watched) looked just as fun!
Day 22: THERE WAS A MIXUP AT THE FACTORY!
How Long Did I Play: ~10 minutes
There was a Mixup at the Factory! is a really cute match game, with some really great music. It’s only one song, but the way it loops feels so satisfying. It was the perfect sort of song for a game that is repetitive in nature. This was just a demo version, so I’m very excited to see what this game will look like once it’s done!
Day 23: Minesweeper
It’s Minesweeper, Y’all.
How Long to Beat: ~20 minutes
I had a big brain heavy day, and I was all ready to play Solitaire when I saw my other options: Minesweeper, Sudoku, Mahjong, and Treasure Hunt. Minesweeper caught my eye, so I played it. One day games will get so bloated that they will explode, and in the end we will always have minesweeper, snake, solitaire, and all the other simple games that never stop being fun.
Day 24: OUT OF THE BLUE
How Long to Beat: ~30 minutes
This game is sick. OUT OF THE BLUE feels so tense and stressful, but in the best way possible. You’re stuck in a maze, you have to get out, but there are enemies blocking your way. You also have energy that you need to maintain. It’s so simple, but its execution is so precise and pinpoint. Just an absolute gem of a game.
Day 25: Trapped in a Cabin with Lord Byron
How Long to Beat: ~10 minutes
I’ve been interested in one player tabletop rpg’s for a while. Especially the kind that are only one page, like this one by Oliver Darkshire. I decided to play Trapped in a Cabin with Lord Byron simple because it sounded hilarious, but there are tons other on Oliver’s Patreon. I love how this only requires one die. I may have ended with high stress, but I’m probably going to keep playing until I win via Masterpiece.
Bonus: Flamecraft
How Long to Beat: ~2 hours
This came is too cute. I almost died with its cuteness. Little, friendly dragons that want jobs. It’s just adorable. The person with the best reputation wins, but the real winners are all the players of the game, because you can’t lose when these dragons are your companions.
Day 26: Solitaire
It’s Solitaire.
How Long to Beat: ~ 5 minutes
I just needed a mentally chill night.
Day 27: Beat Saber
How Long I Played: ~30 Minutes
Beat Saber is a great game to play during a lunch break. It’s fun, it’s a workout, and it’s easy to pick up!
Day 28: A Witch’s Word
How Long to Beat: ~10 minutes
A Witch’s Word is a very sweet twine game about a woman who promised a witch her first child it meant saving her mother’s life. The only problem is that the woman can’t find a good date! I don’t want to go too much further in the story, but know that I found the ending just delightful.
Day 29: Dance Practice
How Many Steps Missed: 20
Like real dancing, it took me a couple tries to understand how to move in Dance Practice. I love how simple and awkward it is, like real dance practice. It has that real feeling of moving like a dump truck trying to do a K turn. But the music’s pretty, and you’re dancing! Even if it’s stiff, you’re dancing.
Day 30: EverCrawl
Most Steps: 167
EverCrawl is so fun. As the description states, it’s a “bite-sized puzzle roguelite” that feels like you should be playing it on the gameboy. It’s the exact type of game that you can play just once or 1000 times. Plus there are different classes and weapons to unlock! I didn’t plan this at all, but I think it’s a great game to end the challenge on, because I plan on playing this well after September. It’s sort of a reminder to me that, even if Game-a-Day is over this year, I still want to keep playing and finding new, small games. I’d say more, but I’ll save it for my post about how Game-a-Day 2022 went!