Drop shows how a simple game can work

Minecraft creator Notch has just released a free game called Drop. The game is a bit like a touch-typing exercise with music and a swirly feel to it. I’m not enough of a typist to be good at it, or it could just be that my reflexes are slowing as a I age, so I can’t get past 11 as a score.

However it’s an excellent example of how to make a very simple, compelling game. The game was created with the Unity game engine; an environment where most new developers move straight to 3D driving and shooting. It’s great to see something showing that you don’t need layers of movement and colour (and shooting) to make a game that can work.

Given Notch cites his ceiling as one of the inspirations for the game you can see he’s taken the simpler, cleaner path.