"qomp" by Stuffed Wombat and Atari

First, my one sentence summary: “a one-button precision platformer where you’re the ball from Pong just trying to survive.”

Next, a word from the developer: “qomp is a small game about freedom.” A developer of few words, it seems.

What Worked For Me:

The game was short; I was able to complete it in just under 90 minutes. Moreover, the developer is incredibly candid about what the game has to offer (see the Steam page for more if you’re curious).
The game has a reasonable amount of replayability; each level can be replayed in “challenge mode,” which isn’t shy about testing the player’s mastery of the game.
The game can be played with a single button. It’s a perfect example of “easy to pick up, but difficult to master,” especially as the game throws in additional mechanics and complications over its run-time.
The game has a minimalist, grey-scale aesthetic. I felt this was a good match for the game’s stripped-down mechanics.
I appreciated the inclusion of accessibility options (invincibility and an “auto clicker” for sections that would otherwise require button-mashing).
The game also had a speed-running feature built in. I’m not a speed-runner myself, but it’s always nice to see developers embrace the various ways players may engage with their game.

What Didn’t:

The final “25%” of the game was noticeably shorter than the preceding 75%. Also, the game’s mechanics changed (from a “linear” movement type to a more “circular” one) in the final level, which I found particularly jarring after spending the entire game up to that point playing in a different way.
I was disappointed there was no final gauntlet that combined all the game’s mechanics (a la “Champion’s Road”).
I was surprised the “level select” menu option wasn’t accessible until after I beat the game on normal mode.
(nit-pick) The levels varied in length, even across the various parts and “worlds.” The shorter levels weren’t inherently bad, but I couldn’t help but wonder if they could’ve been fleshed out a hair more.
(nit-pick) The music was serviceable, but it never really blew me away.

Conclusion:

If you are a fan of minimalist platformers like “Micro Platformer” or “E.Z” you’ll likely enjoy “qomp” as well. The game is also quite affordable; it’s $6.99 new (and $2.37 at time of writing because of the Steam Winter Sale). It may take some time for you to wrap your head around the game’s core mechanic, but that’s part of the fun. Ultimately, if minimalist aesthetics, precision platformers, or Pong turned up to 11 sounds interesting to you, definitely give this one a look.

Check it out here.