Leap Year
- June 13, 2024
- Daniel Linssen
- 3h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Leap Year" is a charming, compact platformer focused on exploration and discovery. Traverse a hand-drawn world, uncover hidden paths, and collect calendar pages to reveal the game's secrets. Enjoy a soothing soundtrack, numerous achievements, and a few dancing friends across 40+ rooms in this two-hour experience. This game was commissioned by the experimental Dutch indie studio, Sokpop Collective.
Windows
Reviews
- Leap Year features masterful level design that cleverly teaches players new mechanics, leading to satisfying 'aha!' moments throughout the game.
- The game is a delightful and charming experience, with a unique twist on platforming that keeps players engaged and encourages exploration.
- Despite its short playtime of around 2 hours, Leap Year is packed with innovative ideas and surprises, making it a worthwhile experience for puzzle platformer fans.
- Some players found the movement mechanics to be slippery and imprecise, leading to occasional frustration during platforming challenges.
- The game can feel short for some, with a playtime that may leave players wanting more content or additional challenges.
- A few sections of the game involve tedious backtracking, which can disrupt the flow of gameplay and lead to minor frustrations.
- gameplay70 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Leap Year" is characterized by its clever and minimalistic mechanics that challenge players to discover and utilize various jumping techniques throughout the game. With engaging level design that gradually unveils new mechanics, players experience a series of "aha" moments that enhance problem-solving and exploration. Despite some minor frustrations with movement precision, the game is praised for its innovative approach to platforming and puzzle-solving, making it a delightful and concise experience.
“Learning the mechanics is a fun brain teaser that's just complicated enough to make things interesting without being overwhelming.”
“The game does a very nice job of getting you to discover its various mechanics, and the final puzzle/endgame twist was very enjoyable, a nice new brainteaser to cap everything off.”
“The level design is really clever, and your mind will be blown every time you discover a new mechanic.”
“The puzzle conceit is creative, and learning about the game mechanics recontextualizes earlier puzzles in a way that makes you think 'that was there the whole time?!' My only gripe is that the movement is a bit floaty and imprecise, which leads to occasional frustration.”
“Nice game, but the main game mechanic can get annoying and tedious (anti-platformer muscle memory). The last puzzles really need some more checkpoints, but overall it's a good game.”
“Underneath its deceptively cute design, there lie devious and cheeky mechanics which will both surprise and frustrate you.”
- music11 mentions
- 82 % positive mentions
- 18 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is consistently praised for its charm and catchiness, enhancing the overall experience alongside the minimalistic graphics. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, contributing to the game's fun and engaging atmosphere. Overall, the combination of great music and appealing visuals creates a delightful ambiance that complements the gameplay.
“The level design, mechanics, introductions to said mechanics, puzzles, art style, music... it's all just superb.”
“This puzzle platformer has great mechanics, is great at getting you to figure them out, on top of great ambiance, controls, music.”
“Throw in the charming art, fun fonts, and catchy music, and I'd say this game is dang near perfect at what it set out to do.”
- graphics9 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 11 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The graphics are described as simple yet charming, featuring a minimalistic art style that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the hand-drawn visuals and the delightful music, which together create an engaging atmosphere reminiscent of classic adventure games. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the gameplay, making it enjoyable and memorable.
“The level design, mechanics, introductions to said mechanics, puzzles, art style, music... it's all just superb.”
“Had a blast with it and really enjoyed the minimalistic art style and music.”
“Charming hand-drawn graphics.”
“The visuals are simple but charming, and the sound and music are great.”
“With every new discovery, the layout of areas and seemingly mundane visuals become the sort of pixel hunt that conjures up memories of classic adventure games.”
“The visuals and music are pretty charming.”
- humor5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its cleverness and creativity, with players noting that it elicits genuine laughter through its unique mechanics and engaging puzzles. The central concept of the game, where a normal jump results in failure, adds a humorous twist that keeps players entertained and challenged throughout. Overall, the game is described as a fun and tightly-designed experience that successfully blends humor with gameplay.
“Very cute and clever little platformer that made me laugh out loud multiple times.”
“This game is amazing at using its mechanics to deliver a tightly-designed, fun, and surprisingly hilarious experience.”
“The central conceit, that your normal jump kills you when you land, is a hilarious idea that led to creative puzzles and kept messing with my mind and muscle memory right up to the end of the game.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious, particularly due to backtracking and the main game mechanics, which can lead to frustration. While some parts are enjoyable, the lack of checkpoints in later puzzles exacerbates the grind, making it a common point of complaint. Overall, the experience is mixed, with some enjoyment overshadowed by the repetitive nature of certain tasks.
“That's one of my main complaints with these types of games: the backtracking can feel quite tedious when you just want to work on a puzzle.”
“The main game mechanic can get annoying and tedious; the last 'puzzles' really need some more checkpoints.”
“A tiny bit tedious in some parts but overall it was nice!”
- story2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The story aspect is minimal, with users suggesting that players should not anticipate a deep narrative but rather focus on enjoying the gameplay experience. Some comparisons are made to classic indie games, hinting at a nostalgic, simplistic storytelling approach.
“Reminded me of an untitled story and some other old classic indie games.”
“The story felt like a rehash of old indie games, lacking originality and depth.”
“I found the narrative to be uninspired and reminiscent of untitled stories from the past.”
“The plot was predictable and failed to engage me, much like other classic indie titles.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game emotionally engaging, evoking a range of feelings from laughter to surprise, reminiscent of classic indie titles. It successfully creates a sense of nostalgia while also making players feel both intelligent and playful.
“This is one of the best games I've ever played; it made me laugh, it made me gasp, it made me feel really smart and really silly.”
“Made me feel like I was playing an old indie game from the days of VVVVVV, Star Guard, and Knytt.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Replayability is considered high due to the presence of speed achievements, encouraging players to revisit the game to improve their times.
“Replayability is high due to the speed achievements.”
“The game offers a variety of paths and choices, making each playthrough feel unique.”
“With multiple endings and character builds, I find myself coming back for more.”
“Replayability is high for the speed achievements.”
“Once you complete the main story, there's little incentive to play again.”
“The lack of varied endings makes replaying the game feel pointless.”
