Trapdoors
A downloadable game for Playdate
Trapdoors is a little puzzle game made for the Playdate console.
You are a trapdoor operator and your task is to help wandering blobs fall into the hatch of the same color as theirs.
Each blob that falls into the correct hatch increases the score, whereas an incorrect fall will decrease it, so be careful!
The game has 12 progressively challenging levels that will test your skill, and an unlockable endless mode where you can try to achieve the highest score possible (and make sure to share it with everybody!)
CONTROLS
D-Pad : Select a trapdoor / change bridge
Crank : Open/close the selected trapdoor
A Button : Confirm (only in some menus)
B Button : Cancel (only in some menus)
This is my first game for this console. Even if I don't own a Playdate myself, I was always intrigued by its design, and so I decided to try and make something. I hope you like the game, and if you want to provide any kind of feedback know that it is truly appreciated!
DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS
As mentioned above, this game is for the Playdate console only. Click here for a guide on how to sideload a game on your device. Version 1.0.1, which has some little improvements, is recommended for download!
Also, if you liked the soundtrack, you can download the "Trapdoors - Original Soundtrack" file, that contains all the tracks from the game!
Download
Click download now to get access to the following files:
Development log
- Little update - Version 1.0.1Jun 18, 2022
Comments
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Hey! Any chance to add new levels? The game is amazing!!
Hey there unfortunately there are no plans to expand the game at the moment. I'm currently working on a new game for PC right now. Anyways thanks a lot, I'm glad you liked it!
Great game :)
Sorry for leaving a thousand comments but if you ever update it could you make the cursor bigger so that it's easier to see which door you have selected? 🥹🫶
endless mode never stops being fun it is lovely and saving my commute
Hey, thanks a lot for all the comments, your support and kind words are so appreciated!
I'm sorry though I won't make updates to the game since I'm working on something else at the moment, I consider the project over by now.
And... who knows about the ??? mistery! Maybe if future games are made we'll all learn more!
I went back to pay you for it xoxo love you 🫶👏
this is SUCH a good little game I hope you make many more games and we find out more about the ??? mystery 💛
this game is amazing. Easily my favorite on the playdate. Ive high scores 6600 on Endless and am now experiencing some hand cramps.
Any tutorials on proper positioning of your pinky during play?
can’t wait for whatever [???] is!
Wow, thanks so much for your kind words, glad you liked it!
Surprisingly difficult Game & Watch style game. Very polished, even in the menus. The difficulty increase each level feels perfect, and I appreciate that the main game's levels aren't randomly generated so you know they're actually possible. Endless is incredibly difficult though…
Love the feel of using the crank to control the trapdoors, it feels like just the right amount of cranking. I like that it comes with the soundtrack too!
Highly recommend.
It's a complete, polished package and very fun. I love the way that the trapdoors feel and the sound design brings a ton of charm.
Endless mode is ridiculously hard wtf!
Deviously simple...dexterity game? Action puzzler? Truly a lot of fun and has great progression. Fantastic mechanics for the Playdate. Don't hesitate and download this now!
Humbled for your very kind words. Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Wow, this is one of the best Playdate games I have played. So well done and such a clever idea. Just made a video on in. It will be coming out next week.
Thanks for the feedback, so glad you enjoyed it! Make sure to share the video as long as it's out. Cheers!
100%d the game! I’m not too proud of it but my endless score is 3700. It’s tough! Really love this game!
Wow, great score on the Endless, it's meant to be the most difficult mode so... congrats! And thanks a lot for the feedback, I'm glad you liked the game!
Loved how chaotic the game gets -- it was a perfect slow build of difficulty. It never felt impossible but the feeling of just getting a blob to drop in is great.
Really enjoyed this game!
Hi Jordan, thanks for playing it, I'm glad you liked it and so humbled by your kind words!
I also enjoyed your video, I must say you played very good even some trickiest levels!
Thanks again, truly.
this game is so polished and such a great concept and well execution..
the only thing is, if youre really trying to play it competitively it feels so.. unnatural, trying to find a good way to hold it so its not always bouncing out of your hand when trying to crank and then move and crank again etc.
its a bit of a shame really, I kept looking for ways to hold it down steady, to be able to move my hands as fast as I could, claw grip, setting it down, on the stomach. everything was awkward..
makes me lose a bit of hope for future games that might have you move and crank in quick succession also. hope its something that might just need getting use too, but, ugh it sucks cuz I really liked this game, just cant hold it properly to play it, I dunno man
That's a very interesting consideration, and actually one of the main concerns during the design of the game.
During development I changed and tweaked countless times the levels and the endless mode to address this problem in the best way. Turns out it is however there for the "long term", it was a risk I wanted to take.
Personally I'm concerned too, but at the same time I'm intrigued on how the design "principles" for this console will evolve, and can't wait to see what people (and myself if I will do another game for Playdate) have in store.
Thanks a lot for your comment and for the feedback!
Can't stop trying to beat my scores. Great game!
Thanks Jackie, I'm happy you're having a good time!
Having a blast with this on my playdate! Fun tip: reset your file before making save data, it’s cool.
I'm happy that you're having a good time, thanks for the comment! Also good tip, fortunately the hatch closes just in time... ;)
I can’t get the game to start at all on my Playdate. I press A, B, d-pad in all directions, etc. on “play” and nothing happens.
Hi Brent! Try to use the crank to proceed. Cheers!