Pony Island

Format: Windows, Mac, Linux (Steam)

Genre: Endless runner/Puzzle solving hybrid (yes, really)

Length: About 3 hours will see you through the storyline, but be prepared to sink in a few more hours to find easter eggs and a second ending

Publisher's Blurb: Pony Island is a suspense puzzle game in disguise. You are in limbo, trapped in a malevolent and malfunctioning arcade machine devised by the devil himself. 

The devil detests having his puzzles solved and poor programming exposed; you will need to think outside the box to proceed and you will be insulted when you do.

Games Like This: Portal shares a few similarities, being a puzzle-solving game with an antagonist that attempts to control your actions and talks to you throughout, but Pony Island really is very different to anything I've seen or played before.

One of the many start screens. 

Pony Island is a little slice of genius. It certainly isn't a long game - I played straight through the main storyline in one evening and returned the day after to complete everything. Yet it's a perfectly paced and surprisingly intricate game with a wealth of hidden extras and details to flesh it out. 

I am very conscious of not revealing too much about the plot or some of the cleverer mechanics, as a large part of the game's appeal is the way the story is crafted - often through minor details that the player finds themselves - and gameplay mechanics that take the player by surprise. So, what do you need to know to work out if you want to play this game?

First: The programming elements are introduced very gently, with only one function at a time, and with symbols instead of words. This makes it incredibly friendly for beginners and makes the programming elements a puzzle to solve. Some of the more complex puzzles do include hints within the screen, too, so don't be put off by the programming elements because of a lack of experience.

An early programming puzzle. 

Second: The story is incredibly well told and tight - not a single element in the game is thrown in simply to pad out the game or waste your time. From little text documents you can find, seemingly throwaway art details that reveal a secret, every single thing works towards a compelling and complex narrative. It is also well worth pointing out that despite being a reasonably dark game, there are no cheap jumpscares - all the darker themes work to unnerve you as opposed to terrifying you.

Third: The game actively rewards you for being curious. It's usually very obvious what the 'correct' thing to do is, but exploring other ways and details will reward you - either by giving you another little crumb of plot or progressing you towards the second ending.

An endless runner segment

Four: The endless runner segments of Pony Island are occasionally frustrating, but it mitigates the worst of it by giving reasonably short levels and immediately restarting the level when you (inevitably) die. There is a particularly frustrating segment if you are trying to 100% complete the game and see the additional ending but with persistence and trial and error it's possible for even newcomers or people who know they suck at endless runners (i.e. me) to overcome. 

Five: The game warns you on startup that a mouse is highly recommended. They really are not kidding. You probably could play this on a trackpad if you really hated yourself, but the aforementioned runner segments do rely on quick, precise movements and left and right mouse clicks.

Six: The soundtrack is great, and in places where you might be hearing the same track a lot, they obviously made sure to give that area some of the best music. This really helps mitigate any lingering frustration over failing a level.

In short, get Pony Island if you want a short game with a great story and you're willing to be surprised by something a little bit different. I highly recommend seeking out all the secrets in order to get the full experience. The additional ending really adds another dimension to the game.