:3 | Game Brain — video game discovery

About

:3 is a single player action game. It was developed by mod.kitchen and was released on June 30, 2025. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

:3 s̶a̶v̶e̶s̶ ̶t̶e̶h̶ ̶w̶o̶r̶l̶d goes from a red place to a blue place in search of a more colorful life, while chasing balls of yarn across switches and potentially dying a lot and solving puzzles.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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100%

Audience ScoreBased on 10 reviews

music2 positive mentions

graphics3 negative mentions

Adorably simple visuals that hide a challenging gameplay experience, demanding precision and patience.
Unique yarn mechanics add versatility and creativity to the platforming, allowing for open-ended solutions to obstacles.
Well-designed levels with a nice variety and meaningful goals beyond just finishing, complemented by a charming 8-bit soundtrack.

Frequent deaths and backtracking can lead to moments of genuine frustration, especially in more difficult levels.
The initial visual presentation is bland, improving only as the player progresses through the game.
Some quality of life improvements are needed, such as faster restarts and better checkpoint placement.

gameplay
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
The gameplay is centered around a versatile yarn mechanic that enhances level design and encourages creative problem-solving, reminiscent of classic platformers like Super Mario World but with a unique focus on yarn rather than enemy interactions. Players can also utilize an optional slow-motion feature and an easier "decaffeinated" mode for a more accessible experience.
- “The standout mechanic is your yarn: it's not just a cute accessory.”
- “It delivers solid level design, a great core mechanic, and meaningful goals beyond just finishing.”
- “The yarn mechanics are the unique part of the game and turn out pretty versatile - you're left to find your own solutions with many obstacles being open-ended.”
- “It's similar to Super Mario World with comparable run and jump mechanics, but it has fewer enemy interactions and instead focuses on yarn.”
- “The yarn mechanics are the unique part of the game and turn out to be pretty versatile - you're left to find your own solutions with many obstacles being open-ended.”
- “There's also an optional slow-motion mechanic and an easier difficulty called 'decaffeinated'.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The 8-bit soundtrack is well-received, enhancing the game's experience with a light melancholy tone that contrasts with the expected absurd humor. Many players express a strong appreciation for the music, indicating they would enjoy listening to it independently.
- “I love the music; I could leave it on for the soundtrack alone.”
- “I love the music; I could leave it on for the soundtrack alone.”
- “The 8-bit soundtrack complements the experience well, though the overall atmosphere leans more towards a light melancholy than the absurd humor suggested by the store page.”
story
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features a personal and simple story that enhances the experience, with a notable progression as the world becomes more colorful and vibrant throughout the journey. While the visuals start off bland, they effectively tie into the narrative, complementing the polished movement mechanics of the precision platformer.
- “Precision platformer with reasonably polished movement and a rather personal story.”
- “The world becoming more colorful and vibrant throughout the journey is a nice touch tying the visuals to the story.”
- “The story is simple and great.”
graphics
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
150%
The graphics in :3 feature adorably simple visuals that evolve into a more colorful and vibrant palette as the game progresses, effectively reflecting the story's development. However, the initial visuals are described as visually bland, which may not impress players at the outset.
- “Don't let the adorably simple visuals fool you – :3 packs a serious punch in the difficulty department.”
- “The world becoming more colorful and vibrant throughout the journey is a nice touch, tying the visuals to the story.”
- “The graphics are outdated and lack the polish expected from modern games.”
- “Character models look bland and lifeless, making it hard to connect with the game.”
- “The environments feel empty and uninspired, which detracts from the overall experience.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere is characterized by a light melancholy, enhanced by an 8-bit soundtrack that fits the experience, contrasting with the absurd humor implied in the game's promotional material.
- “The 8-bit soundtrack complements the experience well, though the overall atmosphere leans more towards a light melancholy than the absurd humor suggested by the store page.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
While the 8-bit soundtrack enhances the experience, many users feel that the game's atmosphere is more aligned with a light melancholy rather than the absurd humor that was anticipated based on the store page.