LudumData

Wobble Down by MartenJ

[raw]
made by MartenJ for Ludum Dare 57 (JAM)

Concept - Story

You're a hiker walking or racing down a mountain, and your only goal is to stay upright! In the distance, you can see deep into the valley, where your hometown lies waiting. But you're not the best hiker, and your posture is pretty wobbly so don't fall over!

The character moves automatically—it's up to you to tilt and balance in all directions to avoid falling over. The mountain is snowy, windy, bumpy, and full of tricky terrain that will test your reflexes and control. Can you keep your footing and make it all the way to the cozy town in the valley without falling?

What I wanted… but didn’t quite finish (ah, Game Jam struggles!)

I ended up making the level way too big and had to rush to fill it with some content. I had planned to add more obstacles to challenge your balance, but hopefully, it still gets the idea across!

And I couldn’t really test it. So hey, bugs are free, I guess!

Sometimes the camera is in the ground, ups...

How to Play

  • Keep the balance: W/A/S/D
  • Run Faster: E
  • Run Slower: Q
  • Pause: Escape

You can see the hiker’s balance in the corner of the screen, or reflected in the character’s spine posture. The faster you go, the more force is applied to your balance.

3.PNG

Windows Getting Started

Sorry just Windows only this time... - Download zip from this page - Unzip the file downloaded - Start the WobbleDown.exe

Tools

  • Unity
  • Blender
  • Audacity
Original URL https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/57/wobble-down

Ratings

Overall 716th 3.111⭐ 20🧑‍⚖️
Fun 662th 3.028⭐ 20🧑‍⚖️
Innovation 527th 3.111⭐ 20🧑‍⚖️
Theme 833th 2.444⭐ 20🧑‍⚖️
Graphics 690th 3⭐ 20🧑‍⚖️
Humor 466th 2.722⭐ 20🧑‍⚖️
Mood 669th 3.167⭐ 20🧑‍⚖️
Given 24🗳️ 6🗨️

Feedback

gamesplusjames
08. Apr 2025 · 00:14 UTC
This is such a fun idea! Great work!
PretendCoding
08. Apr 2025 · 01:49 UTC
I found myself looking at the balance indicator instead of the character or the scenery, which is a shame because I feel like this could be a really scenic game.
🎤 MartenJ
08. Apr 2025 · 10:02 UTC
@pretendcoding yeah totaly true, I realized that myself at the end, but I think it's a good case of a funny idea but so far not the best and fun implementation. I already thining of different ways of how I could do this better, because the scnenery in hiking is important!
Kluvenlaroplan
08. Apr 2025 · 18:40 UTC
Well you captured the wobblyness of me going on a walk perfectly! Great job.

Such a cozy game, loved the sound and wispy windy VFX.
vangrail
08. Apr 2025 · 18:40 UTC
Interesting concept. Very dangerous sometimes going down the slope. Very long level well made environment art. Need checkpoints to reach the end. Good take on the theme!! I was constantly looking at the bottom left though. With friends very funny! We did reach the end after 20 minutes!
AlexRak2
10. Apr 2025 · 00:47 UTC
interesting game, i agree with others where the art was lacking. Other then that fun submission
Billy Monks
11. Apr 2025 · 00:04 UTC
![WobbleDown_dPCjeBAYIR.png](///raw/950/56/z/6bf16.png)

I came, I saw, I wobbled.

From the concept, I was expecting a physics-driven rage experience like a 3D QWOP, but found it was actually more of a relaxing and atmospheric experience.

I enjoyed my time playing. I found balance really difficult until I noticed the balance indicator in the corner, which made it a lot easier to balance. The path was scenic and long--very long. I was not expecting how long the journey would be. I'm not sure how much further I had to go before I reached the end, but it was a beautiful and peaceful journey regardless. Nice job!
LDJam user 379026
11. Apr 2025 · 00:16 UTC
Pace feels too slow, obstacles could use a dodge/jump over mechanic rather then taking the hit and just quickly re correcting. Dosent feel like I'm balancing but more so playing a game in the left corner of the screen to keep the icon in the center. I'd suggest shifting that into the middle of the screen or project it around the character on screen so that I can actually look elsewhere on the screen.
Eugenik
14. Apr 2025 · 06:00 UTC
:pig:.
TomatoLamp
17. Apr 2025 · 03:26 UTC
At first I really wanted the leaning to allow me to navigate around the obstacles but once I realized how it functioned, I enjoyed it my time here!

I do think the obstacles could be more dangerous. I was able to run full speed through most of the level, only slowing down for the steep, downhill, segments.

Additionally, stepping on obstacles randomly sets your balance but it doesn't provide any "momentum" in that direction so the best thing is to often not input at all. If obstacles "pushed" the balance in a direction for a length of time (or until another obstacle is hit) - it might make them trickier and more exciting.

All in all, it's a unique entry with some ambitious features - good job!
jk5000
21. Apr 2025 · 07:15 UTC
Could have used a bit more difficulty, but else a good game. Well done.
deadroach
21. Apr 2025 · 18:21 UTC
This game is hilarious. It's borderline a prank. The mountain is so fucking huge that past a certain point I couldn't bring myself to speed up, but I simply had to see the end. Thus, here's a 40 minute video of us playing your game. It would have been irresponsible to go any faster.

https://www.youtube.com/live/wu_09x7tuLk?si=s-xWJBEJhjDnLeS-&t=7147
🎤 MartenJ
21. Apr 2025 · 20:18 UTC
@deadroach haha thanks for playing, liked your trash talking with each other and how you go so slow the whole time :D But yeah sadly it turns out to a look left down on the screen game and nowhere else. But like you say, "it is something". Didn't turned out like the thing I wanted to achieve but it is something
deadroach
21. Apr 2025 · 20:25 UTC
@martenj Lol don't be so hard on yourself we were harsh sure but we were clearly still entertained by the experience. It's still easily one of the more memorable games I've played this jam, I certainly haven't played anything like it
ImNotVegan
24. Apr 2025 · 10:02 UTC
Very cute and calming game!

There are problems with the camera, sometimes it goes behind the mountains or the ground and it becomes impossible to see where the character is going
Lazzor
04. May 2025 · 21:02 UTC
Nice one! Simple and with a great cozy vibe to it. All elements fit nicely together, the graphics, sound and UI which just makes this a really relaxing experience. :)