Power Down

A short narrative-based block-pushing puzzle game where every push counts. Carefully manage the energy of each box as you set up each puzzle's precise solution. Features an intruiging blend of retro 2D and low-poly 3D graphics, and an old-school AdLib soundtrack.

Made for the GMTK Game Jam 2026 in four days, as a solo project. The theme of the jam is "Countdown". © 2026 Matt Giuca. No AI was used to make this game.

Controls

Play with either keyboard or a game controller.

Note that the Level Select is fully unlocked: you should play through in order but if you need to, you can skip to any level you like.

Keyboard

• Up/Down/Left/Right or W/A/S/D: Move
• Z or Backspace: Undo
• R: Restart level
• Enter or Space: Skip dialogue

Controller

• Left stick or D-pad: Move
• Y: Undo
• Back/View: Restart level
• A: Skip dialogue

Credits

Game design, programming, art and music by Matt Giuca

• Input prompt graphics by Kenney (Input Prompts and Input Prompts Pixel). License: CC0.
• Sound effect: "stone scrape massive" by EricsSoundschmiede. License: CC0.
• CRT shader by Harrison Allen. License: CC0.

Development

I first prototyped this game in PuzzleScript, a language specifically designed to build block-pushing puzzle games (the prototype was also made during the game jam window). The prototype features the same levels as the full game, but without the narrative and visuals. You can play it here.

I used the following tools to make this game:

• PuzzleScript (prototyping)
• Godot (game engine)
• Blender (3D graphics)
• Aseprite (2D pixel graphics)
• Reaper (music)
• JuceOPLVSTi (music synthesizer)
• Surge XT (sound effects)

Fun fact: About 50% of the development time on this game was on the last level. I'm not sure if this was a good time investment, but it was fun.