Mindwave is like the brainchild of WarioWare, Rhythm Heaven, and Danganronpa

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Fundamentally, Mindwave is focused on finishing micro-games adorned with hand-drawn, sketchy-punk aesthetics. However, it’s enclosed within a narrative that’s more intricate than I initially anticipated. The game distinguishes itself even among indie games at events like Day of the Devs due to its chaotic art style and vibrant, high-energy soundtrack. After trying out a demo of this whirlwind of brainy mini-games at the event, I am convinced that HoloHammer is holding a promising prospect in their hands for a successful game.

Insane in the membrane

In a twisted scenario reminiscent of WarioWare-style quick games, our protagonist Pandora finds herself participating in a mental competition housed within a chilling skyscraper owned by Mindscape Corporation. This towering structure, with its eerie glowing eye, is referred to by Pandora as an “evil-looking tower with a spooky illuminated gaze.” Despite her skepticism and past discomfort, she decides to join the tournament. Her battles are utilized for the enhancement of Mindscape Neutral Network’s AI capabilities, much like a darker rendition of Psychonauts.

The contest requires participants to engage in mini-games reflective of their opponents’ minds. With little else to occupy her time, Pandora persists, even though she has experienced nausea from playing these mind games before. However, the allure of thwarting Mindscape Co.’s profits by winning is too enticing for her to resist.

During the tournament, Pandora finds some relief in talking with her friend Smalls, a slim individual who managed to sneak into the venue through a back door and participate in the competition. Anticipating her introverted nature, he urges her to converse with him and other contestants prior to the initial round. While this interaction is entirely voluntary, Pandora can only chat with a select few players before being escorted away. Smalls suggests that getting to know them could be beneficial if they turn out to be her opponents in the future. However, whether or not his prediction holds true remains uncertain as the demo concludes following the first round, leaving it unclear if this interaction will influence the narrative or mini-games as the tournament unfolds.

At Mindscape Corporation, something truly troubling seems to be unfolding, and although Pandora appears indifferent, she might just be the one to expose the hidden truth. There’s also a possibility that Pandora herself is not entirely well, as one of her inner games features characters shooting each other point-blank in the head, reminiscent of Omori’s gameplay which conceals deeper trauma waiting to surface later on.

It’s all a mind game

Due to their fast succession, these mini-games demand your full attention and sharp thinking skills. Emerging victorious in the initial duel, a match against a teenage girl who’s fond of cuddly bears and sweets, necessitates mastering 25 micro-tasks, including a boss stage, while only having four lives available. The key to success lies in swiftly understanding each mini-game’s requirements and controls – the demo employs a keyboard and mouse setup – as they each last just ten seconds. As the level progresses, the time limit shortens even more due to the increasing speed.

Luckily, none of the mini-games are excessively challenging, encompassing tasks such as tracing a character, categorizing plush toys into containers, rapidly pressing the spacebar, dodging attacks, leaping onto a platform, or synchronizing actions with the game’s soundtrack. However, each stage has the ability to introduce unexpected changes, for instance, displaying pop-up ads that need to be closed or reversing the screen orientation, making it more challenging as you progress through the level. The escalating difficulty of the mini-games, particularly during the endless mode which becomes accessible after finishing the demo’s narrative, encourages players to adapt quickly.

It’s anticipated that the game, Mindwave, will be launched on PC through Steam, but the exact release date hasn’t been announced yet. Based on the fulfilled Kickstarter goals for this game, the developers are currently working on incorporating controller compatibility, Steam Workshop modding options, and online multiplayer modes. A demo of Mindwave can already be found on Steam.

At the Game Developers Conference 2025, I was fortunate enough to attend the Day of the Devs: San Francisco Edition event. There, I got a sneak peek of this game, as it was showcased by its publisher. This preview is based on that demo they provided.

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2025-03-25 21:58