Rating: ★★★★★
Status: completed (updated 2023), free download
Genre: 8-bit, retro, puzzle, brain teaser, sokoban
Gameplay: single-player
Playtime: 45 minute
Replay Value: low
Difficulty Level: Beginner
Gameplay and Mechanics: 5/5
Graphics and Art Style: 4/5
Story and Theme: 2/5
Ultimate Assessment:
Incredibly impressive and unexpectedly humbling, “Mimic!” had me second-guessing my basic mathematics knowledge. In a game built off of pattern recognition, rhythmic execution and maze mapping, you’ll find yourself enchanted by this lovable little game.
We live in a world where even non-gamers are utilizing daily brain teasers with Wordle, NYT mini crossword and Chess puzzles of the day and I would honestly love to see Mimic! introduced into this category of leisurely stimulation.
Playing these 8-bit NES influenced games has showcased to me the ingenuity of developers and the extent of their abilities when given independence. Created by Sourencho, Mimic! is so charming that even a short 45-minute playthrough has me wanting more. This “Simon Says” game prompts players to mimic animal movements, blend into the environment and make your way to the star in the maze. Each level is progressively more challenging, requiring players to navigate landscapes only accessible to certain animals. Additionally, players must capitalize on using the environment to their advantage (clue in some surprise movable pieces here).
Now I can’t call a game unexpectedly humbling without being honest as to why — I was completely stumped in level 9, it felt impassable. Suddenly my understanding of Mimic’s law of order felt inapplicable and I was frustratingly backed into a corner trying to dissect this gecko’s little secret! But, here are two things I learned through many trail and error in this level (and yes even a walkthrough):
You don’t have to be in synch with any animal
All animals follow a six-move pattern
Once I uncovered these two fundamental laws of Mimic!, I was able to navigate its challenges with much more ease. I realized I was overcomplicating the gameplay and creating issues for myself that didn’t even exist!
But what would a game reminiscent of simple commands and classic visuals be without its music score? Notehead did a fantastic job creating the background music, it sounds true to a retro, 8-bit arcade game and is easily integrates into the gameplay. It doesn’t demand for attention, but I would definitely recognize it if it were ever to dawn a friend’s computer in my company.
During my research on the development of Mimic! I found Sourencho’s reflections on the game’s evolution. One particular aspect of Sourencho’s backstory deeply resonated with me as Beanstalk Origins was built on the dream to inspire, but most importantly, facilitate community and appreciation among the indie development community. In the very same gavedev article, we witness gratitude extended to developers, games, podcasts and other communities that inspired Mimic! It’s incredibly endearing to see the author revere the gaming community with such esteem and motivate players to act in the same manner. How often do you see creators volunteer to share their mistakes and the lessons they learned on their journey?
Sourencho carefully outlines each of the lessons illuminated by Mimic!, each one feels hard earned and treasured from the year spent polishing the game for release:
Constraints keep you moving
Playtest, playtest, playtest
The hardest part is teaching
Just put down a placeholder
Follow and join communities
Accessibility brings players
But what I believe to be chief among them is? The Follow and Join Communities” section. Go ahead and read the post yourself to get to know the story behind Mimic! a little better.
It’s a particularly inspiring backstory for me, a game lover at the cusp of her game exploration journey. No, I’m not trying to build my own game any time soon — but what I believe to be paramount is that doing research and finding what tools to equip yourself with should always be my priority. It’s doing research into developers, into the games themselves, that I learn so much and appreciate much more than a standard consumer. I never would have considered in a 8X8 pixel game that actions like “undo” or selecting levels would be considered time consuming if you are working with engine limitations set by platforms like Pico-8.
I admired Sourencho’s honesty about the inspiration for the game and how to incorporating feedback during development. Showcasing the drawing boards of visuals and how other developers impacted the details of the game is refreshing to see. I find these honest revelations, and really the post as a whole, to be so rewarding. It made the game feel more intimate and more personal to see this side of its creation.
You can find Mimic! free to download here, but check out Sourencho’s website to see what else they’ve been up to!