Treasure Chest: April 2020

With two indie games and twenty-six jam submissions as additional ‘in-between’ recommendations, April 2020 was a packed month on our Twitter account. But that is not really a surprise, because on the one hand the forty-sixth Ludum Dare and on the other hand a couple of other jams were just in full action. See for yourself when you master the first lockdown with a frog family, or conjure up dreamlike dishes from worries, or put an end to a sin as a samurai in feudal Japan.


Bitsy Jam (Isolation)

Screenshot of "Reclaiming Solitude"

“Reclaiming Solitude” by George Larkwright.

This Bitsy title shows that the isolation does not need to be used to be productive. Spend the time with things you love and stay safe.


Screenshot of "Vertigo"

“Vertigo” by Valerie Weilheim.

Autobiographical details regarding the corona quarantine get mixed up with a fantastic twist in this beautifully designed Bitsy game.


Curdle Jam 1

Screenshot of "Better With Friends"

“Better With Friends” by MadcoreTom.

Grab your friends to form a group, and then rotate this special bond around to make it to the end together.


DOS Games Jam

Screenshot of "The Mind of Moai"

“The Mind of Moai” by Sopuisasopuli.

When ordinary tile-matching games are too boring for you, then you should try out this extravagant match-three physics mashup.


The Dream Arcade Archive

Screenshot of "BouncePong"

“BouncePong” by MEDWARDS ART.

Think of “Pong”, but you play it on a circular game board and against yourself.


GDC Relief Jam

Screenshot of "Snipe"

“Snipe” by Juan Callejas.

This board game remade in PICO-8 can be played by two to five players and features computer opponents, too. It plays a bit like “Ludo” or Pachisi, but features a shooting twist.


Godot Wild Jam 20

Screenshot of "Tree Golf"

“Tree Golf” by FreezedIce & Raindrinker.

In this golf game, your own seedlings are the balls. Let them grow, so that you can reach the hole of each course.


Haunted PS1 Wretched Weekend 1

Screenshot of "The Undying Beast"

“The Undying Beast” by Akuma Kira & Jarren Crist.

What means death to the undying? An exploration tale set in the void, featuring computer logs, thick fog and daffodils.


Screenshot of "長次郎 - Chōjirō"

“長次郎 – Chōjirō” by Catherine BrinegarLazzie BrownNic Freeman & Curi L. Lagann.

Just embrace the mystery illustrated in this very short, beautiful scene game about a disruptive curse, a sin and how to end it.


Isolate Together Jam

Screenshot of "distancing"

“distancing” by Snail Rhymer.

In this reaction puzzle game you can only isolate one of three population groups per turn. Can you flatten the curve?


JamCraft 2020

Screenshot of "Glube"

“Glube” by RedDashGames.

Each movement on a free tile will create a new one-eyed cube. Two cubes of the same value can be merged together in one cube with a higher value. Try to acquire the five-eyed cube.


Ludum Dare 46

Screenshot of "Battery Panic"

“Battery Panic” by HacksawUnit.

Build correct connections of batteries to regain some energy. As long as you are over zero percent, the game goes on and gets faster.


Screenshot of "HYPERHOP: GALACTIC LANCER"

“HYPERHOP: GALACTIC LANCER” by Jimmy SwanickInkyMatthew Napolillo & Matthew Wagar.

Other planets have to die, so that you can feed yours with them.


Screenshot of "juxta.LINE"

“juxta.LINE” by fiaKaiera.

One minute can feel quite long if you have to react fast, collect data, feel the rhythm and keep the program alive.


Screenshot of "Keep It Alive"

“Keep It Alive” by Daniel Mullins.

Keep the delicate cargo in good shape, while you control the speed of your locomotive, shoot bandits and tie your shoes.


Screenshot of "Ludum Creare"

“Ludum Creare” by Jon Topielski, mafgar & Datz.

Balance your life during the Ludum Dare, solve debug puzzles and fight against bugs in a rhythm based way.


Screenshot of "The Keep! It's Alive!"

“The Keep! It’s Alive!” by minibobbo & James Oliver.

These foolish adventurers did not know that the keep was actually a living beast. Now they have to pay the price.


Screenshot of "The Messenger Assist"

“The Messenger Assist” by Graeme Borland, Julian Beutel & Lauren Marshall.

You are the manifestation of the board computer. Rewire the spaceship’s parts to survive the attack.


Screenshot of "Tumble Baby"

“Tumble Baby” by Will Blanton.

Guide the little baby to the teddy bear by sliding the tiles to a more approachable, safe path.


Major Jam 1

Screenshot of "No Need For Best"

“No Need For Best” by Yuki Okamura-Wong, Gini Wren, Viktor Love, HoodieCrow & Pannsheep.

A dog comes home after a global virus outbreak to search for its best friend.


Mini Jam 52

Screenshot of "Frostbite Crawl"

“Frostbite Crawl” by EngineerKappa.

Collect diamonds while climbing up an icy cold mountain. To prevent your death from frostbite, you have to eat chili peppers or catch some warming light. At the same time, you must avoid ice cubes and sundaes.


Screenshot of "Pikwip"

“Pikwip” by cookiecrayon (Shannon Jahnel Lanktree & Sam Bunny).

Orchestrate the movements of two friends at the same time, so that they can safely reach the summit.


NaNoRenO 2020

Screenshot of "Cafe in the Clouds"

“Cafe in the Clouds” by Cynthia YohJ & Tina.

Become the good kind of dream eaters and transform your guest’s worries into delicacies.


Outbreak Mitigation Game Jam

Screenshot of "Covid-19 Antivirus"

“Covid-19 Antivirus” by Lowlande52.

While no medical cure for the coronavirus was found back then, you were at least digitally already able to whack this piece of virus shit.


PIGSquad 9 Year Anniversary Jam

Screenshot of "Froggy Family Fort"

“Froggy Family Fort” by Marlowe Dobbe & Jeff Cline.

The frog family is not allowed out due to the lockdown. You and your father plan a cozy movie night for everyone.


ScoreSpace Jam 8

Screenshot of "Square the Squares"

“Square the Squares” by Doveon.

Plan for combos in this tile-matching game, while you also keep the balance. However, the time you have to react is constantly decreasing.


Indie games

Screenshot of "Duplicators"

“Duplicators” by competor.

Clone yourself or objects, while you outrun red aliens in a confined spaceship in this brain-melting “Sokoban”-like puzzle experience.


Screenshot of "snacka"

“snacka” by ditto, Martin Kvale & Vigge.

A micropoem collection.
It is full of thoughts.
Thoughts we may have
and wanted others to never know.
Shit.