Uncover the Hidden Gems of Endlight's Indie Adventure
Intense Trailer and Hidden Cleverness
The trailer of Endlight was a force to be reckoned with. It had an almost overwhelming impact that drew me in immediately. But as I delved deeper, I discovered the less obvious but equally captivating aspects. The odd text snippets added a unique flavor to the gameplay, creating a sense of connection with the developer. It was as if McGinley was a silent companion throughout the journey. This combination of intense visuals and hidden cleverness made Endlight stand out from the crowd.Moreover, the game's central conceit of one-time level completions added an element of challenge and exclusivity. It made each playthrough feel special and added to the overall allure of the game. These hidden gems beneath the surface were what kept me coming back for more.
The "Right to Replay" Challenge
Once a year, Endlight offers a "Right to Replay" challenge. The reward for winning this challenge is an in-game "coupon" that grants the holder the right to play Endlight again - but just once, from the very beginning - within the following 12 months. This twist is both twisted and completely counter-intuitive, but to McGinley, it's extremely funny.He acknowledged that many players would hate the idea, but he believed that people would eventually come to appreciate the humor. Some players did indeed take up the challenge. Although the game has a "positive" user rating on Steam, with just 28 reviews, it shows that there are those who are willing to engage with this unique aspect of the game.
Launch and Player Numbers
Endlight launched on Steam in July 2023 and achieved an all-time peak concurrent player count of - it's almost painful to say - three. McGinley mentioned that Endlight has more levels than players, with 16 seasons and 400 levels in total. Initially, the game was launched with 100 levels, but they were very short, with some taking only seconds to complete if you were lucky.McGinley's plan was to release monthly "seasons" of 25 levels each, all for free, to keep people playing. Although only two people have made it to the end of season eight and only one has completed everything so far, McGinley is committed to 20 seasons. He believes that without the DLC albatross (the upfront work on the seasons), he might have given up.
Supporting a Failure
McGinley explained that since you can't replay Endlight, they committed to providing free seasons. After a year, they are still supporting a failure, which is a feat that even No Man's Sky can't claim. At launch, they planned for this failure scenario by creating 80% of the free seasons ahead of time (400 unpolished but playable levels, approximately 3 years of work).The idea was to offset any demoralization caused by lack of sales with the need to ensure that all that upfront DLC work didn't go to waste. And it seems to be working. Without this commitment, they might have run away long ago.
Ongoing Work and Future Plans
It's not just new levels that are being worked on. McGinley is also following through on the Right to Replay challenge, which has delayed the release of Endlight's final four seasons. Roughly 50 people tried the 2023 challenge but nobody was able to finish it, so he's toning things down to make it more achievable.Despite the challenges and the game's failure in terms of sales, McGinley is not finished with this videogame nonsense. He's looking for a publisher for an all-levels-included console edition and is dabbling with a VR version. He has no regrets about working on Endlight, as he is proud of how the game turned out and believes that he wouldn't have done anything differently.
Endlight's 2024 Right to Replay challenge will be open throughout December 9. Beat it and you'll win the right to replay the game; miss it, and you'll have the right to try again in December 2025.New
