Press Any Button

About

Press Any Button is a single player action game with a drama theme. It was developed by Eugene Zubko and was released on January 7, 2021. It received positive reviews from players.

"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

Skip User Reviews

90%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,473 reviews

story150 positive mentions

grinding5 negative mentions

The game features a touching and emotional story that resonates with players, often leading to tears by the end.
A-Eye, the AI character, is well-developed and engaging, making players feel a connection throughout the game.
The gameplay, while simple, introduces various mechanics that keep it interesting and challenging, enhancing the overall experience.

The gameplay can be frustrating at times, especially with certain mechanics like the accordion blocks and the difficulty spikes.
Some players found the dialogue and philosophical themes to be overly preachy or clichéd, detracting from the overall experience.
Technical issues, such as the game freezing when switching to fullscreen, have been reported, which can disrupt the flow of gameplay.

story
359 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
55%
3%
The game's story is a central focus, weaving a poignant narrative that explores themes of life, existence, and emotional connection through the interactions with an AI character named a-eye. While the gameplay is often described as simplistic and at times frustrating, many players found the storytelling to be deeply engaging and emotionally resonant, often leading to moments of reflection and even tears. Overall, the narrative is praised for its depth and ability to evoke strong feelings, making it a worthwhile experience despite its brevity and gameplay limitations.
- “This game will make you reflect about life and other concepts while you play, solely using dialogue and simple gameplay mechanics and variations which snowball into the full story.”
- “Despite being such a simple game, this was a beautifully executed story that had me not wanting the inevitable ending to come.”
- “I never expected an indie title to make me cry, but out of the 15 years of playing video games, this is the first indie game I've played that drew me to the story on an emotional level.”
- “The story feels weak both in pacing and confidence in its own message, falling into many 'first indie game' pitfalls such as meta dialogue and RNG-dependent success.”
- “The gameplay is rather basic, but the game makes up for it with its story.”
- “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.”
gameplay
265 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
64%
8%
The gameplay in this title is generally described as simple and often frustrating, with many players noting its repetitive mechanics and reliance on RNG for success. While some appreciate the evolving gameplay elements and their connection to the narrative, others feel that the gameplay detracts from the overall experience, which is primarily focused on delivering a thought-provoking story. Overall, the game is seen as more of an emotional journey than a traditional gaming experience, with the narrative being the standout feature rather than the gameplay itself.
- “This game will make you reflect about life and other concepts while you play, solely using dialogue and simple gameplay mechanics and variations which snowball into the full story.”
- “The gameplay is simple, but it keeps on changing and it's fun.”
- “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.”
- “Tl;dr gameplay is boring and flawed, the story is the main focus but it feels weak both in pacing and confidence in its own message, falls into many 'first indie game' pitfalls such as meta dialogue and RNG-dependent success, feels like you walk away from the experience with time wasted even if it's less than an hour, the game feels like it shouldn't have a price tag at all.”
- “The gameplay itself was very infuriating for me (especially that rabbit level).”
- “Not only is the gameplay some of the most boring stuff I have done in a video game in a long time, the 'AI' rabbit-looking thing was also one of the most pitiful characters I've had the displeasure of interacting with.”
emotional
201 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised, with many players expressing surprise at its ability to evoke strong feelings, including tears, despite its simplicity and short length. The narrative is described as heartwarming and thought-provoking, often exploring themes of existence and connection, which resonate deeply with players. Overall, the game is recommended for those seeking a touching and emotional experience, with many noting its impactful storytelling and beautiful soundtrack.
- “I'd recommend playing this in a quiet mood at night; it gets pretty emotional towards the end.”
- “This game officially made me cry in less than an hour.”
- “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
92 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
40%
3%
The music in the game has received a mixed but generally positive reception, with many players praising its emotional depth and ability to enhance the narrative experience. While some found the soundtrack repetitive or too loud, others highlighted its beauty and variety, noting that it effectively complements the game's themes and atmosphere. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and engagement.
- “A beautiful game, the soundtrack is fantastic, and I cried.”
- “The music is delightful and contributes to creating an immersive atmosphere.”
- “I was chuckling away through the start of the game, then things started getting more serious, got a bit teary a few times, and was practically bawling by the end :'( the music choices were amazing and definitely helped stir the emotions evoked by a-eye's words, especially towards the conclusion.”
- “First, players are subjected to torture through monotonous, repetitive music.”
- “Okay music but I personally don't like 95% of the soundtracks.”
- “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.”
graphics
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
71%
7%
The graphics of "press any button" are characterized by a minimalist pixel art style that evokes nostalgia and complements the game's thematic depth, reminiscent of titles like "Undertale." While some players appreciate the simplicity and emotional impact of the visuals, others find them lacking in variety and detail, leading to mixed opinions on their overall quality. Overall, the graphics serve the game's narrative focus rather than aiming for high-end visual fidelity.
- “The minimalist aesthetic of 'Press Any Button' enhances its thematic ambitions rather than detracting from them.”
- “The graphics are minimal, going for an 8-bit look, and it really suits the game.”
- “This game is a fantastic example of how visuals don't always need to be over-the-top to deliver an incredible gaming experience.”
- “I'm surprised this tiny game with barely any graphics has such a hit on performance.”
- “Its kinda hard and frustrating, kinda boring, barely an ounce of fun, its short but might seem long, its 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
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in "Press Any Button" is characterized by its quirky charm and playful design, which initially entertains players with lighthearted moments and clever mechanics. However, as the game progresses, the tone shifts, introducing more serious themes that evoke deeper emotions, leading to a mix of laughter and introspection. While some players found the humor to be familiar or lacking originality, many appreciated the game's ability to balance fun with thought-provoking elements.
- “Press any button is a quirky and charming little game on the surface, with playful humor and a clever design that makes it fun in short bursts.”
- “It plays with the player's expectations, leading to funny moments as the game often ironically handles its mechanics or tasks.”
- “The simplicity of the game and the humor make it a perfect 'feel-good' game for in-between.”
atmosphere
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
33%
25%
The atmosphere of the game is described as intimate and emotionally resonant, effectively shifting from humor to serious reflection, which captivates players. While many find it comforting and immersive, some feel it can be overly depressive or stressful compared to the intended chill vibe. Overall, the music and narrative contribute significantly to creating a touching and engaging experience.
- “Press Any Button is a short yet emotional indie game that tells the story of an AI through simple mini-games, captivating more with its atmosphere than with deep gameplay.”
- “Together, these elements create an intimate atmosphere that draws players into a-eye’s evolving perspective.”
- “The music is delightful and contributes to creating an immersive atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere may feel too depressive for some.”
- “At the end of the tragic one... the music, the monologue, and the atmosphere are all touching.”
- “The gameplay works pretty well for the type of game that it is; my only complaint is that I think it's slightly too stressful for the chill atmosphere that the other game elements convey.”
grinding
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
22%
56%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and boring, lacking excitement and motivation to continue. Many express that the grinding feels excessively time-consuming, with some even suggesting it requires a "second life" to fully engage with it. Overall, the repetitive nature of grinding detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “A lot of grinding.”
- “Yeah well it's still boring, it was just tedious without any excitement to fuel my will to continue.”
- “This was extremely tedious and not very exciting.”
- “Got it for free and I didn't think it was worth finishing, especially since I'm playing this with a mouse with poor sensitivity which makes the gameplay tedious (however I wouldn't be enjoying myself even with a good mouse).”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
33%
50%
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players find it comforting and enjoyable enough to revisit occasionally, others note that the lack of varied dialogue and limited gameplay elements reduce its long-term replay value. Despite this, the well-written story leaves a memorable impact, making it worth a few returns.
- “Infinitely replayable with multiplayer options.”
- “There is not much replay value, but this will absolutely be a comfort game I come back to on occasion when I need a pick-me-up in life.”
- “Still, it's a good game, not very replayable, but the well-written story made the experience entertaining.”
- “When you replay after finishing it, the dialogue is all the same, but it's incredibly replayable.”
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. Despite its minimal graphics, players report significant performance issues, indicating that the game is not well-optimized.
- “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.”
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 are noted but not considered overly detrimental to the overall experience.
- “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, though I did not look much further into it myself. I mean 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 such an annoying element to pay attention to.”
- “More generally, all types of systems, including human organizations and nature, experience glitches.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy has drawn criticism for transitioning from a free model to a paid one, especially after promoting a Patreon, leading to user dissatisfaction.
- “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 accessible.”