Thomas Was Alone
Thomas Was Alone is an indie minimalist 2D platformer about friendship and jumping and floating and anti-gravity. Guide a group of rectangles through a series of obstacles, using their different skills together to get to the end of each environment.
What it feels like
Danny Wallace's BAFTA-winning narration invites reflection and interpretation of the sentient AIs' story. The narrative about friendship and connection between artificial entities is treated with care and warmth. A sense of childlike discovery accompanies the emergence and interaction of sentient beings encountering each other.
What it's about
The core story explores the emergence of sentient AIs discovering each other and forming relationships. The narrative and gameplay structure around cooperation and bonds between the AI rectangles. The story involves the AIs discovering who they are and their nature as emerging consciousnesses.
How it plays
Jumping, traversal, and navigating hazardous geometry form the core interactive challenge. The player must coordinate a group of rectangles with different abilities, requiring assembly and directing them as a squad. Puzzles are woven into the environment itself, requiring players to use terrain and obstacles cleverly.
How it looks and sounds
Absolute minimalism defines every aspect of the visual design. Clean flat vector art with simple geometric shapes defines the visual presentation. The gameplay unfolds from a 2D side-on profile view throughout.
How it's structured
Designed exclusively for solo play with no multiplayer component whatsoever. The game is structured as 120 discrete levels played in a fixed order, advancing through environments sequentially. The game has a bounded, authored story arc with a definite beginning, middle, and end across the 120 levels.
Kindred games
Shares Platforming, Side View, Linear Levels, Friendship.
Both lean into Single-Player, Platforming, Side View, Linear Levels.
Shares Platforming, Environmental Puzzles, Minimalist Visuals, Contemplative.
Both lean into Platforming, Single-Player, Environmental Puzzles, Minimalist Visuals.
Shares Platforming, Side View, Linear Levels, Environmental Puzzles.
Both lean into Single-Player, Platforming, Side View, Linear Levels.
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A lesser-known kindred — Platforming, Minimalist Visuals, Side View, Environmental Puzzles. 93% positive across 4,688 Steam reviews.
Both lean into Single-Player, Platforming, Minimalist Visuals, Side View.