HyperPortals (2022)

Developer: Dnovel
Platforms: Windows
Genres: Adventure, Indie, Early Access
Rating: 3.5 of 5, 26 player ratings
Typical playtime: about 26 minutes
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 reflective, text-heavy side-scroller where you explore abstract dimensions through mini-games and dialogue with the author, feeling like an interactive meditation on game design.

atmosphericstory richcasualcontemplativemetatextualabstractchoice-drivenmini-game based

What players say

Players are split: some call it a thoughtful, atmospheric visual novel about choice and dimension-hopping, while many say it is barely interactive and feels like a low-effort asset flip from developer Dnovel/FreeAnimals. The experience is very short, often under five minutes, and uses a beam-of-light mechanic to navigate surreal environments.

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.