Anna: The Magic of Words (2024)

Developer: EASTPIXEL Software
Platforms: Windows, macOS
Genres: Action, Indie, Free To Play, Early Access
Rating: 3.9 of 5, 9 player ratings
Typical playtime: about 25 minutes
Where to get it: Steam

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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 deliberately difficult retro platformer that feels lonely and melancholic as you push through hazardous environments under time pressure.

challengingretroserioussaddisappointeddifficultatmospherictime-pressured

What players say

Players describe it as a hardcore platformer in the style of 1980s Famicom games, but many struggle with the jump mechanics, touching the ceiling stops horizontal movement and there is no air jump from a fall, making levels feel punishing. A handful of reviewers could not even start the game due to unresponsive controls.

Screenshots

More games like this

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.