ACCIDENTAL EXISTENTIAL by slovnoslomo

→ PLAY IN BROWSER / SOUND IS REQUIRED !
Three short stories (or a single story) on the edges of incompatible game genres.
The game is about existential problems and the ways people handle it.
Life, love, responsibility, crises — the existence is tough (but also kinda fun).
Controls — Mouse, A+D
The game is short narrative experience so don't rush through and give it a thought.
I really tried to make the game not just fun to play, but fun to speculate about, so please share your impressions and views in the comments :)
Postmortem:
| HTML5 (web) | https://dv49.itch.io/accidentalexistential |
| Original URL | https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/41/accidental-existential |
Ratings
| Overall | 69th | 3.906⭐ | 167🧑⚖️ |
| Fun | 352th | 3.267⭐ | 165🧑⚖️ |
| Innovation | 95th | 3.858⭐ | 167🧑⚖️ |
| Theme | 166th | 3.945⭐ | 167🧑⚖️ |
| Graphics | 115th | 3.851⭐ | 166🧑⚖️ |
| Audio | 8th | 4.307⭐ | 165🧑⚖️ |
| Humor | 122th | 3.395⭐ | 154🧑⚖️ |
| Mood | 8th | 4.284⭐ | 166🧑⚖️ |
| Given | 26🗳️ | 9🗨️ |
First of all, music is SO well put with the visuals.
First story is a walk simulator's parody? As you only walk and hear deep thoughts on these games?
Second is about growing up and realizing world is shit?
Third is about how easy is to evade yourself from reality?
That was just deeeeeep man.
Interesting and meaningful stories.
All of this is supported with very creative use of the theme.
Brilliant!
Graphics are fitting and effects are nice. Good amount of variety with the game play. Second level was my favourite. I feel it received most attention by the dev.
Music is somewhat disorienting adding to the uneasy feeling. This is a heavy game emotionally. Don't know what else to say. It didn't feel like a game. More like an experience.
I wasn't sure but you guys got it right and in different ways and this is just amazing.
This inspired me to make a [post with some quotes](https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/41/accidental-existential/$92844) :)
Music is really good. room escape was challenging ;)
Thankyou for making it
The graphics, the music, the story. Everything fits perfectly.
But it is too short... wait.. life is too right ?
Nice genres mix and a good sense of humor!
Great work :)
Also, it looks like all the minigames are connected by the same story but I'm not sure. Boy there is a lot to think about this game.
"I hope this sentence makes it into a 'best-of comments' post." --blinry
My ideas:
1. The absurdity and emptiness of the 'modern lifestyle'
2. The road of a self-destructive life
3. How easy it is to prioritize the short term wellbeing over responsibility over the long term.
It's short, which is both a shame and probably a good thing (it doesn't overload you with ideas), but very well made and I'd play a sequal in a heartbeat.
You managed to take a very simple control scheme and make it work across three different game concepts, good design there!
The games themselves were great. They had a strong, effective atmosphere that you can't help but be sucked into. They also have a high chance of personally resonating with people, and they explore some rather dark themes.
I don't really understand the third game, and it seemed really short -- it was over in about 5 seconds for me. I think it's my fault for not really getting it. But it would've been cool to be able to interact with that game the way I did with the others, also.
Overall, this is an excellent game. Very good job! I hope to see more games from you :)
Favorite section was definitely the 2nd with the art style and the final "puf" sound at the end.
Solid!
It wasn't exactly fun, but it was compelling.
The audio was really well done, especially the sound between games. It felt really good.
I really liked the graphics on the second level, that paper texture was really good, but there was one flower, under the line that I really wanted to get, maybe that's why I resorted to drugs and booze, and fell down into a pit of despair?
The room on the other hand was a bit too plain, I feel like I missed something, as I just picked up the key and left. I would have liked to know what was going on, but the game was over before I realized I solved it, or did I? Did I just escape the reality instead of confronting my childhood issues?
I added this to favorites, I need to see more
Please ratee my game too!!! Im below the 20 point threshold: https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/41/trophy-defense
If you want you can try my game on this link:
[Scarry](https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/41/scarry)
The graphics were excellent and the narrative was well put. The music was a little harsh but maybe that's just me.
The themes of the narrative were so true to real life. This is a work of art.
Good job!
Such a simple little game, but the polish on it is top of the line. There were some mini games I didn't know what to do, but otherwise I liked the variety in the puzzles.
I do however wish that the game was longer. It reminded me of WarioWare where there were small little puzzles that needed to be solved quickly.
It's got a polished presentation, sound design being the best of the bunch. To a game like this one it is also the most important one to get right, so kudos!
It took me a while to see the key next to the door on the third story but that only enhanced my experience because I felt more and more stressed because of the crying baby...
One of the best and most unique game I've played in this Ludum Dare. Very impressive :smiley:
All levels are really great, but the third is so deep that I will sleep thinking in it for a long time.
Congratulations, you made art here!
Please, take a look at my game too: https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/41/confessional
Though short still, it is a very unique and deep game. I really appreciate your abilities to turn wonderful ideas into real.
The sounds are super awesome! The total atmosphere is soooooooo immersive.
And do you want to try my game? I'm not as great as you in any aspect, but my game does include some interesting ideas that you may appreciate.
https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/41/on-thin-line
Good job!
I really liked that you didn't settle with just one incompatible mix.
Giving some rating wouldn't hurt, don't you agree?
Come and try my game! https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/41/tactical-hydra
I really like the faux-pretentious thing going on here. I'd love it as a more 'full' game, there's so much potential. It could be like Existential WarioWare.
edit: Upon further reading... is this seriously serious? Or is it tongue-in-cheek serious?
Thank you for response!
> is this seriously serious? Or is it tongue-in-cheek serious?
This is post-irony so it's kinda both :)
I don't want to force any canonical representation and I don't want to be mad at people that don't get some jokes/thoughts I see/put there — your experience and background is unique. I wrote a bit about it in the end of [**→ this part of postmortem**](https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/41/accidental-existential/$94749).
I'd say the biggest creative achievment here (both for me and for the player) is exactly this feeling of duality you are talking about.
I left my rating of your game, if you can leave your feedback in our game, Witch's Escape.
I hope you continue with the project.
https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/41/witchs-escape
https://www.twitch.tv/videos/260564114?t=01h33m34s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeVofreh9pA
(Starts at 4:52:00)