Dungeon crawler game for the Playdate
You Cannot Go Back! is a free adventure game made by an indie developer who goes by the name timboe. In this retro pixel runner, players will venture inside a dungeon in search of treasure. They will need to overcome and survive its traps to reach the loot at the end.
Like Tochi, You Cannot Go Back! is a dungeon crawler adventure that has players deal with various challenges to get to their goal. What makes it unique is its gameplay mechanics that will only allow players to move forward and not back, hence its name.
Keep moving forward
There will be times when you can pretty much get an idea of a game’s premise or what it’s all about just from its title alone—a giveaway if you will. Some developers do it subconsciously, while others are deliberate about it to seem funny and clever about it. You Cannot Go Back! is one of the latter and as its name suggests, going back is not an option.
The game features three-level dungeons that randomize across a total of 36 chambers. What’s more, there are 15 chamber types to go through, each with its own unique traps and challenges to overcome. Some will require you to solve puzzles, others will test your reflexes, and you’ll even rely on your memory to get through the rest. The whole experience is variable and unpredictable.
You can play in either landscape or portrait orientation, and the controls are straightforward, namely Up, Down, and Forward. Playthroughs typically last around five minutes depending on how you play, which some experienced players will find a bit short. However, given the randomized nature of the levels, the game has plenty of replayability especially for those who want to check other outcomes.
Challenging, unpredictable, and fun
If you want something to pass the time and you brought your Playdate along, You Cannot Go Back! is a game you should definitely try out. It’s a fun dungeon survival adventure with a surprising amount of depth and replayability. The levels are randomized and plenty, the challenges are varied, and you’ll enjoy it for many game sessions to come. Highly recommended.
