Free Game Friday | BRICK[bricksmash]SMASH

     Have you ever felt that the game breakout could use more breakout?  Well evidently  Alan Hazelden did because he put together for us this wonderful little inceptious (I'm counting that as a word) game. 

    Each time you hit one of the bricks a ball is emitted inside that miniature breakout board. Once you clear one of the mini boards an extra ball is released. 

   Simple yet very entertaining and able to really challenge just how skilled at multitasking you really are. This game provides a strange good use of a few minutes of your time. 

PLAY GAME HERE : BRICK[bricksmash]SMASH

Free Game Friday | TRIHAYWBFRFYH

  

You have 20 minutes till the world ends. 

     While it has one of the longer names I've heard of (hence the abbreviation) this game is definitely an incredibly unique experience. "The Rapture is Here and You Will Be Forcibly Removed From Your Home" was developed by Connor Sherlock and is inspired by the writings of H. P. Lovecraft, you have a limited amount of time to explore the rolling plans and soft woods of this world.  An ominous massive shape fills the sky and you can see it slowly approaching. Pillars of lights guide you through different narrations presenting Lovecraft's stories. And as time runs out, lightning flashes and pillars and daggers appear piercing outward from the ground reaching up to the skies. And honestly I found this game quite amazing.

"Lovecraft's stories hinge on trying to describe encountering something fundamentally unknowable to human beings," Sherlock told Polygon. "Awe, loneliness and wonder are as important as horror for this. 

   

      The way you play this game is very open, do you run from light to light, trying to get as much of the story as you can? Or do you simply wander the rolling hills and try and absorb the world that your put in. The haunting synth soundtrack pulses calmly throughout this game giving it and it's simple artwork an intense mood for you to sit in.

    I love the idea of exploring narrative in less typical ways in video games. This brings back memories of the game Dear Esther (which is an incredible experience you should play if you get the opportunity) and provides something different and unique into your day.  It'll only take you 20 minutes and allow you to experience a somber narrative.

PLAY GAME HERE: TRIHAYWBFRFYH

Free Game Friday | HEXAGON

     From Terry Cavanagh we have HEXAGON. Here is a game that is able to channel the mind bending joyous frustration brought to us by his fantastic game VVVVVV in a completely new fashion. The actual gameplay is simple. Use the left and right arrow keys to move your little triangle around and dodge the incoming shapes. The art style is in simple shapes in colors that come at you in a dizzying pulsing array. But while the concept is simple, execution remains far from it. Be ready to die. A lot.

     This game will have you screaming with frustration at your many losses. But zero loading times, instant resets, and a kicking soundtrack all pull together to keep the losses from becoming too much. It feels challenging but never unfair or impossible. Each time you start over you get that feeling that you can make it just a little further. Let me tell you, finally reaching the one minute mark filled me with an absolute stand up and cheer sense of accomplishment. It's addictive, easy to pick up anytime and play at a moments notice for any amount of time, making it great for those small moments in between whatever productive things you're trying to accomplish.

     All in all a simple and great little game for you to play. Hexagon also did well enough to earn a full game release in "Super Hexagon" which you can purchase for a few dollars on either Android, IOS, or Steam.

PLAY GAME HERE: HEXAGON