9 Must Play games for the Playdate handheld game console
We carry a Playdate wherever we go. Here's a list of the games that are always in our pocket.
If you grew up on Game Boy, a part of you will always miss that sweet, sweet 2-bit gaming action. It really is amazing what you can do with a tiny display and a handful of pixels, and our friends at Panic have proved that in a big way with their Playdate handheld game console.
Developers took note and hit the ground running, and the quirky handheld has been home to some of the wildest and most talked about games in the past few years (hello Mars After Midnight, I'm looking at you).
Beyond the blockbusters, there's a super deep community cranking out really fun games at an amazing pace. Both the Playdate Catalog and Itch.io are filled to the brim with titles worth of your pocket- here are 9 we carry with us daily.
Totally Safe Enhanced Jump System
To kick things off, let's start with a classic genre: the 3D platformer. Totally Safe Enhanced Jump System is a quirky little timed platformer where you'll find yourself racing to complete a level faster and without running out of fuel. It reminds me of one of my favorite of Mario levels mixed with the touchiness of Lunar Lander. It's madness!
How to play: It's pretty simple, just from platform to platform as quick as possible, while minding your fuel level (the amount you can jump) and collecting gems/fuel along the way. You can use the D-pad or the crank for rotation, both of which offer a unique challenge.
Why it's clever: Playing a level only takes a minute or so, if you can complete it. This game has a rapid fire death/retry loop, one of my favorite mechanics in a little game. You'll be jump-jump-FFFF-retry-jump-jummmmmp-FFFFF'ing in no time. Totally Safe also has support for online leaderboards, so you can compare yourself to the ruthlessness of online competition.
$6 | 3.4mb
Root Bear
A lot of the games on this list are "quick to play" titles, and Root Bear is one of my favorites. There aren't really levels, per se, or any story, just you and the crank trying to best yourself. Apparently this game went viral on TikTok (20m views!), but I needed a blog to tell me that because I'm old. No shame.
How to play: Use the crank (and the crank alone) to pour perfect pints against a racing clock to earn the most tip money possible. There's a very fine balance to the speed vs accuracy of the crank, which affects how much tip you earn, and mastering it is way trickier than it sounds. Each new glass is a different shape and volume, which makes getting into any kind of rhythm a real challenge.
Why it's clever: It may not seem like it, but this is one of the most addictive games on the list. This is the king of "just one more try" games. It even won a community award for use of the crank. The gameplay isn't complex or confusing, it just requires a level of precision you always think you can top. If you just play one more game.
$3 | 15.5mb
Eyeland
I mentioned being a Game Boy kid at the top of this post, and Eyeland is definitely giving off those sweet retro handheld vibes. I first spotted this fantastic little game on Itch, but it's since made the jump to Catalog (a pattern we see with a lot of games).
How to play: It's an adventure game, where you explore a little town and find increasingly bizarre and complex situations. There's a great mix of exploration and puzzle, which reminds me a bit of the start of a Zelda or Earthbound game. The whole thing takes about an hour to play and doesn't save (you can still turn the Playdate on and off, just can't leave the game), which is actually kinda charming.
Why it's clever: The visuals and gameplay are just so charming, and I'm not the only one who thinks so. Eyeland won best Pulp game and best visual achievement in a Pulp game (Pulp is the little online editor that let's you make games in the browser, which makes this whole thing even more impressive).
$2 | 555kb
Escape the Arcade
Braaains
The Botanist (and To Dust)
Beyond the video games, I also grew up with a healthy dose of comics, or, er, graphic novels, which are totally cooler. Landing right in that sweet spot is The Botanist, a crank-comic masterpiece where you help a weird spaceman explore a weirder planet.
How to play: This one is more about vibes than complex action gameplay, and that's ok with me. You're alone on a planet and have to complete various tasks and visit vast lunar locales. Beyond the scrolling, there are some simple puzzle/path elements, which add a nice touch. There's even a free demo available on Itch.io, if that's more your speed.
Why it's clever: The simple crank-to-play format is just perfect for a quick session. I always found myself drawn in with just a few frames. There's also a sequel, called To Dust, that's just as worthy a selection. The whole thing is powered by Panels, an open source library that you can use to make your own game. Seriously, I'm kind of an idiot and I was able to get a comic compiling with Panels.
Yoyozo
One Bit Frogger
Detective Face
