Since games that take ten hours to complete are still considered short, it might seem odd for a game to take only thirty minutes, or an hour, to beat. However, there are a number of indie games that fall into this niche category of abbreviated experiences. One developer making these types of games is Siactro, responsible for the Toree games and Super Kiwi 64. Marcus Horn of Siactro has described these games as “snack” games. Should there be more of these tiny “snack” games?
There has always been a diverse and wide variety of experiences available in video games, and that only continues to be increasingly true. Even though early video games were limited by the technologies available, there were still many different genres, gameplay experiences, and visual styles explored. Now there are all sorts of video games from relaxing to horror, played on tiny screens or large ones, clocking in at a wide variety of lengths. Even with the advent of indie games, and the range of experiences that those can bring, players often still expect a game to provide hours of entertainment. However, with budget pricing and the proper expectations, some games can take one hour or less of playtime, and still be quite fulfilling.
More variety in video games can only be a good thing. Whether or not you’re excited about super short games, there’s no reason more of them shouldn’t exist for those who like them. Extremely short experiences might be just the kind of thing that brings a new gamer into the hobby, or might be what brings back someone who likes games but is super busy with work or family life. In addition, these kinds of experiences can be a nice palate cleanser for people who enjoy longer games. More polished, short, inexpensive experiences can offer something to busy people, or gamers who want to mix it up..
However, not everyone is going to enjoy super short games. Some might feel as though just when you get in the flow of a game, it ends. The time limitation creates other limitations for developers and players. The games cannot have too much depth or complicated stories. These sorts of games may not have the appeal of bigger, meatier games. One could argue that these games may fill some niche, but it is a small one and not one in need of more attention. It’s also harder to find these kinds of games, as they’re often in the lowest price ranges with a lot of shovelware, or cheaply made games that are of low quality.
I believe, however, that these types of games should receive more attention and that there should be more, higher profile “snack” games. There is an uphill battle to be fought to bring attention to these small games, and have players perceive extremely cheap and short games as something more than shovelware Just like real snacks, these kinds of games can be something superficial and fun, meant to be consumed in a smaller amount, between bigger experiences to keep players sated and cleanse their palate.
What about you? Have you played a super small video game? Did you enjoy it? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below or come be a part of the conversation on the Boss Rush Discord.
FEATURED IMAGE: Siactro
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The Boss Rush Podcast is the flagship podcast of Boss Rush Media and The Boss Rush Network. Each week, Corey, LeRon, Stephanie, Edward, and their friends from around the internet come together to talk their week in games, entertainment, and more while also bringing topics for conversation, answer listener and community questions, and cover major news and events happening in the video game industry. Watch The Boss Rush Podcast live on Wednesday Nights on Twitch at 8:30PM ET / 5:30PM PT or on Monday mornings at 7AM ET on YouTube and podcast services everywhere. Thanks for listening! You can also get this episode one week early on Patreon.
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