GAUGE

About

"Gauge" is an experimental sports game with five modes and 23 Steam achievements. The game features psychedelic effects, electronic music, jokes, and LOLcats. However, those with a history of epilepsy should consult a physician before playing due to the potential for seizure-triggering light patterns.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

+11

60%

Audience ScoreBased on 149 reviews

music7 positive mentions

monetization2 negative mentions

The game offers a unique and experimental design that challenges players' reflexes and concentration.
It features a simple yet addictive gameplay mechanic that can be engaging for short bursts of play.
The psychedelic visuals and soundtrack create an intense and immersive experience, appealing to fans of minimalist arcade games.

The game is overly simplistic, with repetitive mechanics that can become boring quickly.
Flashing lights and distracting visuals can be overwhelming and potentially harmful for players with photosensitivity or epilepsy.
The inclusion of an unobtainable achievement is seen as a frustrating design choice that alienates completionist players.

music
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
50%
18%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the decent soundtrack and its ability to enhance the gameplay experience, while others criticize it for a lack of variety and repetitive loops. Although there are moments of nostalgia with references to classic tracks, the overall execution is seen as low effort, with some players even experiencing disruptive elements like unexpected YouTube video pop-ups. Ultimately, while the music is deemed acceptable, it fails to reach the heights of more acclaimed soundtracks in similar games.
- “The soundtrack is nice while it's there.”
- “The game is accompanied by some pretty decent music and some fairly psychedelic graphics.”
- “The thought of a game where all you do is press space bar to control a gauge sounds terrible but it's actually really fun, especially with the flashy background, awesome music, and just how the game tries to distract you all the time.”
- “Music is horrible, constant pressing of the spacebar and... did I mention flashing lights?”
- “Flashy lights attempt to cause harm to epileptic gamers while godawful low-effort GarageBand electronic music hurts your ears.”
- “The bad points for me is that there is no variety in the music (or maybe it is hidden?), the more fare you progress, the more annoying sounds pop in (so the game loses a little of the initial ambiance).”
gameplay
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
60%
20%
The gameplay is characterized by its simplicity, often reducing mechanics to basic actions like holding a spacebar, which some players find engaging initially but ultimately repetitive and lacking depth. While the risk/reward elements and audiovisual experience are appreciated, many reviewers note that the gameplay becomes monotonous after a short period, leading to boredom due to a lack of variety and challenge. Overall, the game offers a brief, straightforward experience that may appeal to some for its charm but leaves others wanting more substantial content.
- “While it’s optional, activating it further doubles your score, so it’s a risk/reward mechanic.”
- “Well done, mechanically simple yet engaging and addictive.”
- “Whilst that may sound pretty boring, the addition of some funky graphics and music make for much better gameplay than it sounds, and I have to say although I got it in a bundle, I wouldn't have been disappointed paying the standard price of £2.49.”
- “Strips every mechanic down to the most basic possible thing.”
- “Tldr: enjoyable for the first 10 minutes until you get a hold of the controls and mechanics, then it falls flat.”
- “I was hoping for something with actual gameplay, but this is nothing more than spacebar: the game.”
graphics
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
60%
20%
The graphics in the game are described as flashy and psychedelic, often distracting players from the gameplay itself. While some appreciate the vibrant visuals and music, many find them overwhelming and even epilepsy-inducing, leading to frustration and a negative impact on the overall experience. Overall, the graphics are seen as excessive and unnecessary, detracting from the game's simplicity and enjoyment.
- “Whilst that may sound pretty boring, the addition of some funky graphics and music make for much better gameplay than it sounds. I have to say, although I got it in a bundle, I wouldn't have been disappointed paying the standard price of £2.49.”
- “The game is accompanied by some pretty decent music and some fairly psychedelic graphics.”
- “For such a simple game, the amount of visuals is impressive.”
- “The flashy visuals distract you from the fact that this game is garbage.”
- “The developers didn't bother adding much in the way of graphics or resolution options, which would be insulting, but the fact that this minimalist 'barista art school dropout' game was dumped on Steam is already too much of an insult.”
- “The game makes heavy use of epilepsy-inducing graphics, all of which are completely unnecessary.”
humor
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is characterized by a psychedelic and sarcastic tone, making it both entertaining to play and watch, especially in multiplayer mode. Players experience a blend of absurd visuals, humorous phrases, and chaotic gameplay that creates a comedic atmosphere, though solo play may feel monotonous. Overall, the humor enhances the challenge and absurdity of the game, providing a unique and engaging experience.
- “It's a psychedelic endurance test with a pretty good sense of humor.”
- “After all, it's a mockery software, sarcastically funny both to play and to watch!”
- “You have to concentrate on holding and releasing your spacebar and ctrl in the right proportion as the game tries to take out your focus with psychedelic graphics, lol cats, funny phrases, reducing your gauge, shaking the screen, and a whole bunch of other mature nonsense.”
story
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The game's story is described as riveting and entertaining, with engaging background elements that keep players curious about future developments. However, it has been compared unfavorably to "Hotline Miami," lacking in key aspects such as soundtrack, violence, and gameplay mechanics.
- “The plot is riveting; it's entertaining to see what's going on in the background and to wonder what's going to happen in a few million score points.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game revolves around the tension and thrill of balancing risk and reward, as players must navigate the challenge of filling the colored bar without touching the edges. This creates a heightened sense of anxiety and excitement, as the desire for greater bonuses pushes players to the brink of failure.
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy for the app relies heavily on ads, leading to a perception of it being overly ad-driven and detracting from the user experience, particularly on mobile platforms.
- “I could see it with very minor success on mobile, free with ads.”
- “This should be a free app overwhelmed by ads on the Play Store.”