1-Bit Explorer

For an exploration-heavy adventure with multiple endings, quests, puzzles, secrets and plenty of things to discover, 1-Bit Explorer is a perfect example of a game that could have used Steam achievements. There are no achievements or Trading Cards at all, despite obvious milestones such as collecting the three Ancient Coins, completing the temples, discovering secrets and reaching the different endings. The game is otherwise a charming little free RPG, but the lack of any Steam progression is a missed opportunity, especially for achievement hunters. Even the community has specifically asked for achievements to be added.

1 Bit Explorer is a lovely little adventure game that I enjoyed mainly because it focuses so strongly on exploration and curiosity. I play as the son of a villager who needs help collecting ancient coins for his father, which sounds like a very ordinary quest at first. The further I explore, though, the more strange secrets I uncover, and I liked how the game gradually reveals that there is much more going on beneath the peaceful surface. The puzzles are the real heart of the experience. Some involve talking to characters and figuring out what to say, while others involve moving rocks, activating levers and finding hidden routes. I enjoyed that the puzzles are integrated into the world rather than feeling like separate challenges placed in a menu. Exploring an area and suddenly realizing that something I noticed earlier was actually important is one of the game's most satisfying moments. The exploration itself is another big strength. I can wander away from the main objective and find optional quests, hidden temples, strange characters and secrets that lead into supernatural territory. There are also multiple endings, which gives my decisions and discoveries more importance. I li…

Very fun, pretty short. Highly recommended if you're looking for a few hours of a combat-light Zelda-like with great vibes.

Fun bite-sized game with some hidden depth if you look for it.

What a cool game for a free game! You'll likely run into a "game over" ending very quickly, but be aware there is more to the game! It is very exploration based, although towards the end of the game there is some slight combat (and in an interesting way too, that was a bit unlike what I typically see). Lots of interesting ideas in this game, including some plot twists along the way. If I had to pick a downside, it would be that I found myself traversing back and forth across the world as I wrapped side quests up. Sure, it could've been done in a more efficient manner...but unless I missed it, there isn't any version of fast travel so you can go from Point A to Point E quickly, without going through all the other places along the way. The world isn't big, so this isn't a huge deal, but it would've been convenient! None the less, the entire game doesn't take terribly long to complete. I did end up "giving up" and looking up a guide to complete some of the last bit of collectibles within the game, because the very basic graphics made it easy (for me) to miss some of them...but they are all hidden in plain sight, so someone more attentive may not have had that problem. Irregar…

This free game has better design, atmosphere and more intuitive gameplay than 95% of what I paid for this year. It has no business being free. This is a GIFT. The developer gave us a GIFT, people. Play and enjoy and be thankful.