This innovative platformer lets you explore the interior of a PC desktop.

      The Arcade Crew

      What happens inside a computer? This is a question I often ponder. Even with my experience working closely with developers, I never fully grasped how lines of code could transform into a functioning website. It always felt like a complicated puzzle, and I held deep respect for my colleagues who navigated it effortlessly.

      This contemplation comes to life in Mainframes, a charming new platformer from French developer Assoupi. The game unfolds within a PC environment, where a modest floppy disk must maneuver through a maze of desktop windows and jumbled code to restore the machine's functionality. While the narrative is minimal, Mainframes is a clever 2D platformer that vividly illustrates the challenge of overcoming a chaotic array of programs.

      After a brief storytelling introduction, Mainframes places me in control of Floppy, guiding me through the computer's desktop. Various windows serve as platforms and barriers to bounce off, all while dodging red spots that can quickly eliminate my square companion. At its essence, Mainframes is reminiscent of Celeste, requiring me to time my jumps and aerial movements to navigate through challenging platforming sections screen by screen.

      The game's unique twist lies in its desktop aesthetic. Each obstacle I encounter has distinct properties that I need to understand in order to succeed. Some windows can be manipulated with a mouse, letting me rearrange platforms and obstacles on the screen. Others alter gravity as I pass through, compelling me to carefully toggle different windows on and off in the correct order to safely traverse to the other side. There are also several desktop icons I can interact with, including a settings gear that shifts the positions of various icons, including literal launchers. Each world creatively plays on different desktop elements, eventually intertwining them to craft platforming challenges that demand precise execution.

      Mastering some of the game's mechanics can be challenging, as there are no tutorials or assists provided. Completing the brief adventure will necessitate players to learn everything organically and engage in trial and error to progress. This experience should resonate with web developers who have ever attempted to tame a program. Like actual development, there are always alternative paths to consider, which is my favorite aspect of Mainframes. While the platforming sections are meticulously designed, I quickly discover that sometimes there’s a simpler way to solve them. Techniques such as wall jumping can enable me to bypass a challenge altogether, allowing me to reach the other side of the screen through clever thinking.

      I nearly gave up during an especially challenging segment where platforms enclosed me in a box. The series of challenges had little room for mistakes, and I felt I lacked the stamina to persevere. After much struggle, I began to analyze it like a scientific problem in search of a different solution. Sure enough, I discovered a method to skip the section entirely by wall jumping at the right moment and leaping to a locked exit. If I stayed put for a while, the platforming sequence would play out on its own, allowing me to grab the key without any effort. Mainframes rewards players who think strategically rather than just working harder.

      While the PC setting offers limited substance beyond a light dose of Y2K nostalgia, Mainframes is an endearing indie title that holds its own against other puzzle platformers like The Pedestrian. It utilizes a straightforward gimmick without overextending it, delivering a concise platforming experience that's perfect for a weekend. It might not provide answers to your burning questions about how your magical PC operates, but it’s enjoyable to reimagine all of it as one large puzzle.

      Mainframes is now available on Nintendo Switch and PC.

      As Digital Trends' Senior Gaming Editor, Giovanni Colantonio supervises all gaming-related content at Digital Trends. He is a seasoned…

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