REVIEWS | PANIC PLAYDATE
Ninth generation | 2022- | digital
Games: 262 (as of April 2025) | Units sold: > 70,000 (as of February 2024)
Devised by Panic (developers of Firewatch and Untitled Goose Game), the Playdate handheld targeted indie developers with a focus on gameplay through a mixture of crank, giro and button-based controls. Playdate initially sold in small batches directly from its website, before going on general sale in early 2024. The portable’s pretty, compact design has proven a hit among creators, with its distinctive visuals and unusual gameplay approaches proving a word-of-mouth success. The system’s library is accessed via an online catalogue, championing innovative takes on classic genres (such as lunar lander Gravity Express and crank-operated racer Grand Tour Legends), story-driven titles and abstract ideas.
Games: 262 (as of April 2025) | Units sold: > 70,000 (as of February 2024)
Devised by Panic (developers of Firewatch and Untitled Goose Game), the Playdate handheld targeted indie developers with a focus on gameplay through a mixture of crank, giro and button-based controls. Playdate initially sold in small batches directly from its website, before going on general sale in early 2024. The portable’s pretty, compact design has proven a hit among creators, with its distinctive visuals and unusual gameplay approaches proving a word-of-mouth success. The system’s library is accessed via an online catalogue, championing innovative takes on classic genres (such as lunar lander Gravity Express and crank-operated racer Grand Tour Legends), story-driven titles and abstract ideas.
BWIRDS
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Rendsword
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Word Trip
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Reel Steal
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Gravity Express
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Casual Birder
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