Ludum Dare 41—Games to play, hack on, and learn from

Ludum Dare is a game development competition, where developers from around the world are challenged to spend a weekend creating games based on a theme. Despite Ludum Dare 41’s challenging theme—to combine two incompatible genres—over 3,000 creations were submitted by the community.

From real-time arcade games, to visual novel games and point-and-click games, to rhythm-based platformer games, there’s something for everyone. Here are a few entries that caught our attention.

Rythm is Lava

Rythm is Lava mixes not two, but four genres: RPG, puzzle, platformer, and rhythm. Control two characters as you solve puzzles in this great little PICO-8 game from @egordorichev.

Controls: X – restart the level · C / Z – toggle speed run info · ↑ ← → – move

View Source (PICO-8, Lua) · Play now ▶ (Web, Windows, macOS, Linux)

Dungeon Scrawl

Dungeon Scrawl from @lakrsv is a rogue-like typing-tutor game where you explore a dungeon while battling enemies and searching for treasure!

Controls: Keyboard

View Source (Unity, C#)· Play now ▶ (Windows, macOS, Linux)

OUTLAW MAYOR PANIC!

Outrun the law in 3D and build your city in @01010111’s OUTLAW MAYOR PANIC!

Controls: ? or ↑ ↓ ← → – move · X – place building.

View Source (HaxelFlixel, Haxe) · Play now ▶ (Windows, macOS)

Crescendo

Crescendo from @Nate954 is a rhythm-based platforming game about infiltrating a building and collecting mysterious orbs. Your goal? To avoid drawing attention to yourself by timing your movement to the music.

Controls: W A S D, or ↑ ↓ ← → – move

View Source (C++) · Play now ▶ (Windows)

Crux Swarm

Crux Swarm by @markopolojorgensen is a Metroidvania-inspired tower defense game. Activate and defend cores to gain abilities and the chance to escape.

Controls: W A S D or ↑ ↓ ← → – move · mouse – aim · mouse left click – fire

View Source (Godot, GDScript) · Play now ▶ (Windows, macOS, Linux)

Lost Without You

Lost Without You is a turn-based action puzzler from @jackrugile (you may remember seeing some of his incredible games built in less than 13kB). Navigate through a mysterious dark labyrinth and help two friends find one another before they run out of light.

Controls: W A S D or ↑ ↓ ← → – move

View Source (JavaScript) · Play now ▶ (Web)

Plasimajita

Build defenses, dodge enemies, and more in Plasimajita by @quantumrain.

Controls: Mouse

View Source (C++) · Play now ▶ (Windows)

Wreckless Rally

Drive around the race track in Wreckless Rally in this Bejewelled-inspired entry from @DaanVanYperen, @Flaterectomy, @meatmachine1001, @MisterOizo and @troop.

Controls: W A S D – move · E – drop cars · C – drift

View Source (libGDX, Java) · Play now ▶ (Web)

YOU LEFT ME.

YOU LEFT ME. is dark and surreal visual novel/point-and-click game about loneliness and loss from @zephyo.

Controls: Mouse

View Source (Unity, C#) · Play now ▶ (Windows, macOS, Linux)

Jeff From Accounting

Jeff From Accounting by @Almax27 is an unpunctuated game about typing what you shoot and shooting what you type. Buckle up; things are about to get wordy!

Controls: W A S D or ↑ ↓ ← → – move · SHIFT – sprint · LEFT CLICK – fire · RIGHT CLICK – reload

View Source (Unity, C#) · Play now ▶ (Web, Windows, macOS, Linux)

Think Before Escape

Think Before Escape is a realtime-turn-based platformer created by @acoto87.

Controls:← → – move · SPACE – jump.

View Source (Unity, C#) · Play now ▶ (Web, Windows, macOS, Linux)

C://TEXTRIS.EXE

C://TEXTRIS.EXE is a text-based puzzle adventure by @kinggryan. Despite the name, it also works on macOS.

Controls: A S D or ↓ ← → – move · > – rotate left · / – rotate right

View Source (Unity, C#) · Play now ▶ (Web, Windows, macOS)

ASM Hell

Navigate the dungeon ASM Hell writing assembly in this unique game from @zouharvi. Don’t worry if your assembly language is a little rusty; solutions to all 13 challenges have been posted.

Controls: Type in Assembly Language. No biggy.

View Source (Phaser, JavaScript) · Play now ▶ (Web)

Neon Space

Survive wave after wave of enemy spaceships in @SMILEY4’s Neon Space turn-based shooter.

Controls: W A S D or ↑ ↓ ← → – move · F – fire gun · G – drop / detonate bomb · H – fire laser.

View Source (Java) · Play now ▶ (Windows, macOS, Linux)

STEREOtype

STEREOtype from @thquinn is a rhythm-based typing game. It’s not easy!

Controls: Keyboard

View Source (JavaScript) · Play now ▶ (Web, Windows, macOS, Linux)

Life Jumper

Take control of your life in @z2367570158’s Life Jumper–a text adventure 3D platform game.

Controls: ? or W A S D – move · SPACE – jump

View Source (Unity, C#) · Play now ▶ (Windows)

RPG Shop

RPG Shop from @lawrence-laz is a shop simulator and adventure game.

Controls: Mouse – aim or interact · SPACE – proceed · X – cancel or say no.

View Source (Unity, C#) · Play now ▶ (Windows, macOS)

Sheet Music Editor Shoot’Em Up

As the name suggests, @hypp’s Sheet Music Editor Shoot’Em Up is a shoot ’em up game played on sheet music. If you don’t C-sharp when the aliens attack you’ll B-flat.

Controls: ↑ – jump ↓ – release · ← – move left · → – move right · X – change note length · O – fire

View Source (PICO-8, Lua) · Play now ▶ (Web, Windows, macOS, Linux)

Karaoke Ninja

Karaoke Ninja by @gastricsparrow may be one of the only stealth games where you have to make noise to win. Talk, sing, scream, make whatever noise you can to make platforms appear that the ninja can use to progress.

Controls: W A D or ↑ ← → – move · ? – create platforms.

View Source (Unity, C#) · Play now ▶ (Windows, macOS, Linux)

If you don’t have a microphone, you can see people experimenting with the game online e.g. Elysia Griffin on Twitch and Vincent Le Quang on YouTube.

Invitris

Invitris is like Space Invaders meets Tetris. Incredible job for your first Ludum Dare, @mavlac!

Controls: ← → – move left and right · ↑ ↓ – rotate armed brick · SPACE – fire brick cannon

View Source (Unity, C#)· Play now ▶ (Web, Windows, Linux)

If you’re looking for an opportunity to build your first game and join an amazing community, sign up for the upcoming Ludum Dare 42 on August 10th-13th. Don’t just take our word for it though! Watch a documentary about Ludum Dare on YouTube.

Written by

Lee Reilly

@leereilly

Developer / Marketing / Community at GitHub. Twitter: https://twitter.com/leereilly.