The Square Key (2020)

Developer: Dnovel, FreeAnimals_Software
Publisher: Conglomerate 5
Platforms: Windows
Genres: Action, Adventure, Casual, Indie
Rating: 4.8 of 5, 22 player ratings
Typical playtime: about 2.0 hours
Where to get it: Steam

The 3D catalog: game boxes on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalog in 3D

The same catalog has a room you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real games from it when you tell them what you feel like playing. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this game is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

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How it feels

A whimsical puzzle-platformer where you rotate the entire level around a central key to guide a cute character through coin-filled, stylized 2D worlds.

puzzle-platformingrotational mechanicscoin collectingwhimsicalcasualexplorativestylized

What players say

Players enjoy the rotating gravity mechanic that makes this a timing-based puzzle platformer, but note it is short, around 1 to 4 hours. Some find the challenge too demanding for casual play, while others appreciate the satisfying momentum possible in speedruns. The dark atmosphere and music are praised, but a few reviewers call the early repetition tedious.

Screenshots

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More by Dnovel

This page is from Underplayed Gems, a catalog of older and overlooked games. Not quite it? You can browse by platform and genre, or take this one into the 3D catalog and ask the Catbot for something closer.