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The Easiest Way's itch.io pageResults
| Criteria | Rank | Score* | Raw Score |
| Narrative | #4 | 4.619 | 4.619 |
| Enjoyment | #124 | 4.238 | 4.238 |
| Audio | #301 | 3.905 | 3.905 |
| Creativity | #413 | 4.238 | 4.238 |
| Artwork | #1936 | 3.619 | 3.619 |
Ranked from 21 ratings. Score is adjusted from raw score by the median number of ratings per game in the jam.
How does your game fit the theme?
The game gives you gameplay upgrades to the point you aren't able to actually play, and just watch the same thing happening again and again because it's too easy. Along that, some messages in between waves bring up reflections about doing things the easiest way and how that's repetitive, it's looping.
(Optional) Please credit all assets you've used
The full credits are in the game page.
(Optional) What would you like to be called if GMTK features your game?
Tuta
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Comments
Your Average rank is #83 in GMTK 2025! Congrats!
Here is the link with all the rankings:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1pcYEGvaHF3y30mMEWwywmkRd2FCpo-u3_ZFpPFSo...
I felt bad that there is no average score, because some teams aimed for all categories, not just one. So I just scrapped the results page and made a table. I agree with Mark that "Overall" is questionable, but I still think "Average" is a valuable score, so I decided to share it.
Thanks for sharing! I did see that result before on the spreadsheet, it’s still so crazy to me… Top 100 felt like a dream before the jam, and here I am. Not that the category exists anymore, but still good to know.
This game is incredible, such an unexpected gem. The modifications were a fun start but then you get to the narrative and the game skyrockets from being good to being amazing. Everything fits the message so well and it makes the experience so good, I applaud you.
Philosophical.
Some people learn less gamedesign in 6 month of college than this game teaches
I like this!! First jam game I've seen so far where the narrative is the strongest part, but that's kind of the point: the gameplay strengthens the point the narrative is trying to make. Art isn't too special, but it knows what it is and doesn't try to be anything that it isn't. Music never gets repetitive too. I was confused why the modifiers made the game easier, and why the modifiers were so weirdly specific, but it made sense in the end. (except for the tall one. that one won't make sense.)
I knew this was gonna be a fire game when I heard you posting those audio files in the discord
Yeah, I was not expecting the game to effectively become a narrative. It kinda has the same vibe as a Doki Doki Literature Club or a Spec Ops: The Line with the effective twist to the story, and it is very well done! The effects on like the health bar and whatnot are also really well done! That is easily one of the best experiences I've had from any of these games in the jam so far!
My only real note is that with the build settings, as Im on a 4K Monitor, it forced the game to be played in a very tiny window that took up 1/9th of my screen, though that didn't impact the experience in any negative way. If anything that might have actually helped as with the basic art that looks like it came from MS Paint, the "No texture" textures, that really surprised me when the gameplay started off solid and then threw the narrative twist at me! Really well done!
Thank you so much!! About the resolution, you can change it to fullscreen with F11. I was going to put that disclaimer in-game, but I didn’t have time left so I just put it in the game page, so it’s fairly reasonable that you didn’t see it, haha. Good thing you did enjoy it anyways! :)
This was such a nice surprise! I wasn't expecting a top down shooter-esque game to become a narrative about the importance of effort and trials, that was really special! I think I especially needed to play this as someone who can get comfortable in my style and rarely branch out in what I try out. Thanks for making this! I wanted to the main non-narrative mechanic I really appreciated. I loved when the boomerang did more damage on return, that was a fantastic mechanic that encouraged thoughtful gameplay.
Some quick feedback on what refinements I think you could make. I think the level of polish is excellent, the game is very juicy, just be careful not to swing too far in that direction. I think the main thing that stuck out was the screenshake, it was a bit much as a viewer. The other thing I would improve is the information telegraphed by the enemies. Because their art is so simple, just a sprite flipping, it's super hard to read their attacks leading to frustration and I eventually gave up trying to dodge attack, opting to just take the hit and kill them faster. If ignoring an enemy attack is easier than actively engaging with it, it needs some tweaking. That's all the feedback I have! keep refining all the little things and you've got the start to a great personal style! One of the most creative entries I've played, keep up the great work and keep making games!
Thank you so much for the thoughtful review! I really didn’t put that much design effort to the gameplay being really honest, and I didn’t think about the enemy information, that’s actually more important that I thought. Game feel is something I also give a lot of attention to, and it’s good to hear other people’s opinions if it’s too much.
As of all game jams, I made this one to learn more, but it’s really cool to see people liking it. And great feedback, thanks again! :D
You absolutely nailed the narrative and audio! The sprites could benefit from a little polishing, even though the artstyle is not really bad. The only flaw (in my opinion) is that I see a lot of these top down shooters in game jams and that drags the creativity a little (but not much, other things bumped it to 3 stars, which is still good). I've got an example to learn for the next Game Jam ;)
Pretty valid actually, the game is indeed really simple and I focused on the message because of that. Good thing you liked it anyways!
I now share my non-existent braincell with Kyubi. I AM LIKING THE MODIFICATIONS!! I actually love the message behind the game though, and the humor surrounding it really helps emphasize the point! Great work!!
LOL I’m really glad you liked it :D
This game was really cool! I liked how the gameplay elements complemented the narrative.
Thank you!!
LOVED IT!!! I had no idea what was coming next every time and I couldn't wait to know! Very intriguing. A new style of game lol. And you know what you were right I was just starting to get better at the game in the beginning but then....
I’m really happy to see the message worked in practice. Thanks for playing :))
I am so glad I put this game in the front of my review queue.
I was blown away by the twist during my gameplay. I was really getting intrigued from the modifications on my first playthrough---up until the screen text shows up when I realized this game has another amazing aspect to focus on. I will separate my review on the both aspects of the game.
Artwork & gameplay wise, it is extremely enjoyable with the polishing effects. It had a point of interest even before the twist. Really loved the first part of gameplay which is very fun on its own!
The narrative was done so well while keeping the dialogues brief! I am not exaggerating when I say this: I was really, really, really shocked with the game's twist in the middle. It is a really well lesson as well! I don't think many other games that I will play is going to surpass the quality of this game!
Great job!
I’m really glad you really liked such a simple experience. Thank you so much for the review, and for playing <3
Very polished game! really like the artwork even though its simple it's clean. The text to speech was a really good idea and fitting! Great job :D
I’m glad you liked it! Thank you so much s2
good game with an interesting meaning behind it. also the first message jumpscared me lol
It’s really a bit scary, haha. Thanks for playing!!
Crazy little experiential game that did more showing than telling, which I always appreciate. Good juice and overall game feel, well done! Fun little packaged thing
Yeah, I’ve wanted to do some short thing for a long time to hone my skills. I’m relieved it actually worked for many people. Thanks a lot, and I really appreciate your review :D
Super creative! Got real philosophical at the end lol. Great work, very unique!
Thanks a lot!
Stellar job all around! The art is so charming and feels alive with the animations and juice. It all feels so polished. The boomerang feels very nice to use. One of my favorites I've played so far in the jam, awesome game!!!
Thanks for the review! It’s a really short game, but I’m glad you liked it :)
Dude, this game was genuinely the most fun out of all the games i have played so far. No way, nobody else has rated it yet. The deep meaning behind it makes for a great experience. And even though it was quite challenging at first, the combination of the music and artstyle fit perfectly together and made stick to playing and the hard beginning gave me an even better understanding of the actual plot of the game. Great job!
Thank you, i really appreciate it! <3 I’m proud of how it turned out being my first solo jam.