IDEA (2023)

Developer: TLR Games
Publisher: TLR Games, Shinyuden, IndieArk
Platforms: Windows, macOS
Genres: Indie
Rating: 3.9 of 5, 50 player ratings
Typical playtime: about 47 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 serene, slow-paced exploration where you gently guide a rolling lightbulb through photorealistic landscapes with no pressure or failure.

relaxingatmosphericcontemplativegentlepeacefulexploratoryphotorealisticmeditative

What players say

Players are split on whether IDEA is relaxing or frustrating. The core loop has you bump a lightbulb through drone-filmed real-world scenes with only three clicks per screen and a timer, and for some that becomes tense rather than calming. A handful of endings exist, but longer-time players mention a bug where the lightbulb does not reappear after an ending without a manual restart.

Screenshots

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More by TLR Games

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.