Press Any Button

About

"Press Any Button" is an arcade-style game that tells the story of A-Eye, an artificial intelligence who creates a video game for fun. The game features a mix of dialogues with A-Eye and playing the game he has created, with a playtime of around an hour. A-Eye hopes to receive feedback on his unique and heartfelt game.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,248 reviews

story130 positive mentions

grinding5 negative mentions

The game features a touching and emotional narrative that resonates with players, often leading to tears.
Gameplay is simple yet engaging, with a variety of mechanics introduced throughout the experience.
A-Eye, the AI character, is well-developed and endearing, creating a strong connection with players.

The gameplay can become frustrating due to random difficulty spikes and mechanics that are not well explained.
Some players found the dialogue to be overly long or preachy, detracting from the overall experience.
Technical issues, such as crashing when switching to fullscreen, have been reported, affecting gameplay.

story
300 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
54%
3%
The game's story is a poignant exploration of life and emotional themes, delivered through the interactions with a charming AI character named a-eye. While the gameplay is simple and often serves as a backdrop to the narrative, many players found the storytelling to be impactful, touching on serious topics and evoking strong emotions. Despite its brevity, the story resonates deeply, making it a worthwhile experience for those seeking a narrative-driven game.
- “Never thought that such a short game can be very impactful and emotional, delivering a great story that you can really connect with.”
- “Through relatively simple gameplay, the developer manages to deliver an emotional story that explores different themes unique to humans and how it intersects with artificial intelligence.”
- “The story is immaculate.”
- “But tl;dr: the game is purposefully boring and drab to serve its contrived and soulless plot that boils down to 'never kill yourself or something, I don't know.'”
- “The rest of the game is padded with a simple story, or more like the philosophical musings of the developer, none of which were insightful, thought-provoking, or enjoyable in the slightest.”
- “It's not terrible; it's just nothing new or particularly innovative in terms of storytelling or the story told.”
gameplay
214 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
60%
8%
The gameplay is generally described as simple and straightforward, primarily revolving around placing platforms to catch falling objects, which can become challenging as new mechanics are introduced. While some players found the gameplay engaging and enjoyable, others criticized it for being repetitive, frustrating, or lacking depth, often feeling like a backdrop to the game's emotional narrative. Overall, the gameplay serves more as a vehicle for storytelling rather than a standalone highlight, with mixed opinions on its execution and enjoyment.
- “Each level introduces new mechanics, making it feel like you're constantly learning and adapting as you go.”
- “Through relatively simple gameplay, the developer manages to deliver an emotional story that explores different themes unique to humans and how it intersects with artificial intelligence.”
- “The gameplay is simple yet engaging, and I enjoyed every second of it.”
- “Tedious gameplay does not help with the message.”
- “Not only is the gameplay some of the most boring stuff I have done in a video game in a long time, but the AI rabbit-like character was also one of the most pitiful characters I've had the displeasure of interacting with.”
- “The gameplay was intuitive and not too difficult (you only use one button, after all), but not too easy.”
emotional
169 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised, with many players expressing that it unexpectedly made them cry due to its touching narrative and character interactions. Reviewers highlight the depth of the dialogues and the impactful storytelling, which evoke a range of feelings from sadness to warmth, despite the game's simplicity and brevity. Overall, it is recommended for those seeking a heartfelt experience that resonates on a personal level.
- “The things the AI talks about are surprisingly deep and emotional, offering thought-provoking dialogues that kept me invested in the game.”
- “Never thought that such a short game can be very impactful and emotional, delivering a great story that you can really connect with.”
- “An emotional, heartbreaking, utterly gut-wrenching story about the meaning of life and a retrospective on our very existence delivered and told through one of the most special ways ever in such bittersweet and little amount of time.”
music
75 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
36%
4%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its emotional depth and ability to enhance the storytelling experience, with many players describing it as beautiful and immersive. The soundtrack features a diverse range of compositions that effectively match the game's moods, contributing to a touching atmosphere, although some users noted issues with volume control. Overall, the music is considered a standout aspect of the game, elevating both the gameplay and narrative.
- “I also personally really enjoyed the soundtrack, which added quite a lot to the story.”
- “The music is beautiful and the gameplay is innovative despite its simplicity.”
- “Beautiful little game with an incredible soundtrack and emotional story.”
- “Had problems with the platforms clipping into each other and then spazzing out [spoiler] also I wish the music part wasn't spammable [/spoiler] but overall this is a worthwhile short experience and I definitely recommend you give it a shot.”
- “Firstly, the game is loud and there are no volume options because of the game gimmick, so that's a tad annoying, especially when the first songs are purposely uninteresting.”
- “❌too loud music that can't be turned down”
graphics
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
67%
9%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a minimalistic, pixelated art style that evokes nostalgia and suits its emotional narrative. While some players find the visuals simplistic and lacking in variety, others appreciate their charm and how they complement the gameplay and story. Overall, the graphics are seen as adequate for the game's focus on storytelling rather than visual spectacle.
- “The pixelated graphics fit the minimalist style of the game and the soundtrack is enjoyable.”
- “This game is a fantastic example of how visuals don't always need to be over-the-top to deliver an incredible gaming experience.”
- “A graphically simple yet well-designed game with a surprising emotional impact.”
- “I'm surprised this tiny game with barely any graphics has such a hit on performance.”
- “Its kind of hard and frustrating, kind of boring, barely an ounce of fun, it's short but might seem long, it's repetitive, not an ounce of beauty in the graphics.”
- “The graphics and audio could be much better and it could have done with some variety, but its heart is in the right place.”
humor
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its charming and ironic handling of mechanics, leading to amusing moments that engage players initially. While many find the early parts of the game funny and lighthearted, some reviews note that the humor can become repetitive or overshadowed by more serious themes as the game progresses. Overall, it offers a blend of humor and emotional depth, making it a feel-good experience despite some gameplay challenges.
- “I clicked because it was funny, stayed because it had feels!”
- “"Press Any Button" is a charming little game that may seem simple at first glance, but it quickly reveals its humorous character.”
- “It plays with the player's expectations, leading to funny moments as the game often ironically handles its mechanics or tasks.”
grinding
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
11%
56%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and unexciting, often feeling that it detracts from the overall experience. Many reviewers suggest that the amount of grinding required is overwhelming, making it feel like a chore rather than an enjoyable part of the gameplay.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “A lot of grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Tedious gameplay does not help with the message.”
- “This was extremely tedious and not very exciting.”
- “It's a hipster game that's super tedious and tries to have a story.”
optimization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
20%
60%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some users praising it as a 10/10 for graphics quality, while others criticize it for poor performance and a lack of technical options, noting that it struggles despite its minimal graphical demands.
- “10/10 optimization”
- “Performance: zero technical options available other than full screen/windowed.”
- “Though, a note for the dev; the game isn't very optimized.”
- “I'm surprised this tiny game with barely any graphics has such a hit on performance.”
atmosphere
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
20%
20%
The atmosphere of the game is generally praised for its immersive qualities, enhanced by delightful music and engaging monologues that evoke strong emotions. However, some players feel that the arcade-style gameplay can clash with the intended chill vibe, creating a slightly stressful experience that detracts from the overall atmosphere.
- “And at the end of the tragic one... the music, the monologue, and the atmosphere are all touching.”
- “The music is delightful and contributes to creating an immersive atmosphere.”
- “The game is in an arcade style which is nice; it gave the whole game a different atmosphere.”
- “The gameplay works pretty well for the type of game that it is, but my only complaint is that I think it's slightly too stressful for the chill atmosphere that the other game elements convey.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The game is noted for its well-written story, making the initial experience enjoyable, but it lacks significant replayability due to its short length and limited multiplayer options. While some players find it memorable, many agree that it does not offer enough incentive for repeated playthroughs.
- “Infinitely replayable, especially in multiplayer mode.”
- “Not very long or replayable, but definitely memorable.”
- “Still, it's a good game, not very replayable, but the well-written story made the experience entertaining.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, players report experiencing various glitches that can occasionally disrupt gameplay, including freezing issues in early levels. While controls function as intended, these stability problems, though not overly frustrating, are notable enough to warrant attention.
- “There are still a lot of glitches, and I don't just mean the strange interaction when placing platforms on top of each other; that behavior seems intentional. However, the game froze 2-3 times during gameplay, at least in the early levels.”
- “Controls are as they should be, although sometimes you can complain about glitches, which can make you lose. However, it is not an element that is so annoying to pay attention to.”
- “More generally, all types of systems, including human organizations and nature, experience glitches.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The monetization strategy has drawn criticism for transitioning from a free model to a paid one, especially after promoting a Patreon, leading to dissatisfaction among users.
- “Charging for this after it was free, and after advertising their Patreon!?”
- “The monetization model feels exploitative, especially for a game that was once free to play.”
- “It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind a paywall after initially being promised as part of the base game.”