2024 has already seen the release of bold, big-budget games like Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, and Dragon’s Dogma 2. However, one standout game of the year is not available on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, or Nintendo Switch. It’s Mars After Midnight, a creation of Lucas Pope, known for Papers, Please and Return of the Obra Dinn. The catch? It can only be played on Playdate, Panic’s unique 1-bit handheld with a crank.
Mars After Midnight takes a lighter tone compared to Pope’s previous works. The game follows an alien dreaming of visiting Earth, navigating community events on Mars each night with the help of a robot companion. Players use the limited controls of Playdate, including a crank, to vet alien creatures before granting them entry and managing refreshments.
Designed to maximize the Playdate’s unique features, Mars After Midnight showcases innovative gameplay tailored for the platform. Pope’s creative process was influenced by the constraints of developing for Playdate, resulting in a truly original gaming experience.
1-bit wonder
Launched in 2022, Playdate harks back to the Game Boy era with a 1-bit display and a side crank. Pope, drawn to the device’s unconventional design, found it to be a refreshing playground for experimentation after the success of Obra Dinn. His interest in 1-bit visuals stems from childhood experiences, driving him to explore the unique challenges of creating compelling art in such a restricted format.
“When you’re really limited by what you can do, you have to think about problems that we don’t think about anymore.”
Mars After Midnight leverages the Playdate’s compact screen by presenting detailed character designs that engage players with the environment. The game’s mechanics and narrative arc were tailored to suit the platform’s limitations, resulting in a visually striking and mechanically sound gaming experience.
