There’s something inherently compelling about one-button games since developers are giving themselves a tight constraint for their creativity. Sometimes, they take full advantage of that. One of my favorite games from this year, One Btn Bosses, gets it right thanks to tight controls and never seeming like it’s unfair.
Faraway is an upcoming game in a similar vein. This procedurally generated title from developer Steph Thirion (aka Little Eyes) and publisher Annapurna Interactive is coming to PC in 2025. Faraway has been a long time coming — Thirion announced it for iPhone all the way back in 2010. Since the initial unveiling, the solo developer has remade the game with a captivating new art style.
You play as a shooting star and you use the gravitational force of the closest star to swing your way toward your destination. When you get there, you’ll use the same mechanic to draw a constellation of random stars. If you create loops between them, you’ll get a score multiplier. Along with the main procedurally generated levels, there’s a mode that asks you to draw specific shapes. Another puzzle mode prompts you to get the highest possible score from a certain formation.
During Wednesday’s Day of the Devs showcase, Thirion (who made early iPhone standout Eliss) said he took inspiration from Tetris to create a minimalist, replayable game with random elements and lots of depth. On the surface, Faraway has relaxing audio and visuals, but you’ll need to keep your brain engaged if you want to get a great score.
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