Introduction
There Is No Game is a short, humorous puzzle adventure game developed by Pascal Cammisotto (under the alias KaMiZoTo) in 2015 for the Deception Jam, where it won for its innovative take on the puzzle genre. Despite its title, it is a game, cleverly disguised as a non-game through a deceptive narrator who insists there’s nothing to play.
The game breaks the fourth wall, blending point-and-click mechanics, meta-humor, and creative puzzles.
The game begins with a black screen displaying “THERE IS NO GAME” and a narrator who humorously discourages you from playing, claiming there’s nothing to do. This sets the tone for a deceptive, self-aware experience where your goal is to defy the narrator by finding and progressing through hidden puzzles.
The game involves interacting with on-screen elements, solving riddles, and uncovering a quirky narrative. It features a single main “game” (a Breakout-style brick breaker) and other mini-puzzles, often interrupted by glitches or the narrator’s interference. The story culminates in a choice that leads to two alternate endings.
How to play
- Core mechanics: Use your mouse to click, drag, and interact with objects on the screen. The game is entirely point-and-click, with no keyboard required. Audio is crucial, as the narrator provides occasional hints (despite often lying).
- Objective: Progress by disobeying the narrator and solving puzzles through creative thinking. The game is a riddle that requires you to find hidden clues and “break” the interface.
Basic walkthrough (No Major Spoilers)
- Starting out: On the title screen, interact with the word “NO” (specifically the “O”) by clicking it multiple times to dislodge it, beginning your defiance of the narrator.
- Progressing: Use your mouse to manipulate objects like the “O” or other on-screen elements (e.g., a mute button or screws). Experiment with dragging or clicking to uncover new screens or items.
- Puzzles: Solve a series of challenges, such as:
- Forming words with letters to unlock new areas.
- Playing a Breakout-style game to earn a trophy.
- Using items creatively (e.g., a trophy or metal box) to interact with the environment.
- Later Stages: Retrieve a key from a squirrel by completing tasks like growing a tree or cracking a nut. These involve dragging items and clicking specific objects.
- Ending: After navigating all puzzles, make a choice to “forgive” or “not forgive” the narrator, affecting the final dialogue
Enjoy the quirky, deceptive fun of There Is No Game, and don’t let the narrator fool you—there’s definitely a game to play!
