Data Garden

One of those games that is best played without knowing much about it, and simply be amazed by the creativity of its developers. Everything the player can do in the game, from menu navigation to mind-bending interactions, is done exclusively by means of a single button. This is not the first game to self-impose this design constraint, but it is certainly one that explores the mechanics of this format in some of the most exciting ways (I'm still processing how clever the subway scene is). Other than that, the game acts as a wordless essay and critique on the challenges of digitization or data collection on social networks, among others. In a subtle (and often satisfyingly bizarre) way, it manages to leave you thinking about our day-to-day behavior patterns that, like the game's control system, can come to be seen as inertial and single-channel. If I have to point out a downside to the game, it's that it's rather short (it can easily be completed in one sitting), but I actually see this more as a virtue in that it acts as a compact experience that understands its scope and achieves its humble goal successfully (and will leave more than one with a smile on their face at the end). Highly recommended!

It is an example of why video games are art. It makes you think, it makes you connect, it makes you have fun. Thanks guys, you created a great piece. I hope to see more from this studio.

It's difficult to say much about this game without spoiling the experience.