A Collaborative Showcase of Creativity

In an era where the internet is often crowded with complex services, Volume.art stands out as a delightful, free project worth highlighting. This collection of microgames challenges players to manipulate volume sliders through a variety of abstract, unpredictable, and highly amusing mechanics, developed by a team of 23 creators.


Standout Mini-Games

The experience begins with "A man named Bow" by Alice Bottino. The gameplay feels reminiscent of the Home Run Contest from Super Smash Bros., requiring players to pull back the mouse to aim an arrow, attempting to hit a specific target distance that corresponds to a desired volume level.


Another highlight comes from Lunacid developer Akuma Kira. Their contribution, "What's This About," is a humorous parody of the infamous persuasion mini-game from The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion. Players must manage the approval level of a "lumpy potato man" character, all while dealing with a mechanic that mimics the original game's frustration as persuasion effectiveness rapidly decays.


Parody and Nostalgia

The collection thrives on its ability to surprise and delight the player. Other notable entries include:

  • "Ctrl+Alt+Date" by Iodine: A charming satire of dating simulators. It forces players to navigate awkward, deeply complex dialogue trees to impress their "volume rocker boo" and increase the sound.
  • "In the Zone" by Akuma Kira: This entry places players in a 3D environment reminiscent of the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series, tasking them with tracking a Geiger counter to find the source of maximum radiation, which translates to the maximum volume level.

A Must-Try Experience

Consisting of 29 unique games in total, the entire collection can be completed in under an hour. Volume.art is a polished and fast-paced project that demonstrates how well the microgame format works for themed game jams. For many, it evokes a sense of nostalgia similar to the classic WarioWare series or the golden age of browser-based Flash games. It is a creative effort that is well worth experiencing.