The Alchemy Between Us
The Alchemy Between Us is a minimalist 5 minute game that tells a tiny story without words about two people that can't keep their eyes off each other.
How To Play
To play the game you need only your mouse. Hover over the other character to gain Alchemy. But watch out, if they look back it turns into Awkwardness 😳 The rules are simple:
- fill up your Alchemy Gauge to increase your alchemy level
- but if your Awkward Gauge is full, you are set back one level
Reach the final level to see how the tiny story unfolds ✨
What Else?
The Alchemy Between Us was my solo submission to the Pirate Software Game Jam 15. Here is the required design document: Game Design Document
Making this tiny game live up to my vision would not have been possible for me as a solo dev in this short amount of time without the wonderful assets these people provided (most of them free), so I’ll gladly mention all of them here: Credits & Licenses
Comments
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A lovely quick little game about how awkward it is sometimes to just sit with the person you like and how, sometimes, you are both feeling the same way about each other.
The art style is magnificent and the scenery is stunning.
As for the controls, all you need is move your mouse back and forth. Very easy to play.
Thanks for playing! 🙌
Thank you for making this game. It made me really happy to experience something "pure" like this. I kind of want a romantic story game in this style :D You definitely deserve to be on the winners list! Keep up the good work!
That’s so nice, thank you so much! <3 I’m actually thinking about turning it into a full game ;)
Simple and beautiful
Thank you! 🙌
Lovely and unique! Would love to see this prototype unfold!
Thank you 😊 I’m already thinking about ways to expand it beyond a prototype!
This is so beautiful.
Thanks! <3
Very unique take on the theme, this one was very creative!
Thank you! 🙌
This is the most unique experiences that i have playing a video game. Is the same feeling i get playing Gris, good job, really god job!
Wow, you drawing the comparison to having the same feeling as Gris means a lot to me! Thank you so much for playing 💖
The Alchemy between us and this game..
Congratulations ♡
Thank you so much! 😊💖
Beautiful and easy to understand.
Thanks! <3
A city dyed by the setting sun and two people who care about each other gazing at the other without being noticed... what a beautiful and romantic scene! It made me smile and even my cheeks were dyed by the sunset, meow~!
Thank you so much for playing my game on your channel 🙏 I’m happy you like it! :)
Love this game. Def has the best atmosphere of any i've played from the jam. Perfect example of why a simple idea executed brilliantly works. I did find an exploit where you can rest at a certain point on the right persons shoulder that only comes under the cursor when theyre turned away so you can automate winning, but i dont think anyone would notice or care on their first playthrough. Besides, should be easy enough to fix. Great game anyway, thats just one small nitpick thats well made up for by the wonderful atmosphere and ingenious storytelling!
Thank you so much for the kind words :) Also, you’re the first one to report an exploit, nice - I wouldn’t have figured that one out myself! :D
seems like an awesome game idea. Really creative use of the theme. I never would have thought of something like this
Thank you! 😊
Great job on the visuals and the theme. The only thing is I'm not sure how you can expand it, but it's good how it is I suppose.
Thanks! 🙌 I think there are ways to expand it, I’m already cooking up some ideas ;)
Short game and very simple gameplay. Everything is well done, making it a great experience.
Thank you! 🙌
Very nice minimalist game with great aesthetics and unique gameplay. I love it!
Thanks, glad you like it! :)
So sweet and engaging!
Thanks! <3
Game with great sensitivity. Congratulations!
Thanks so much for playing my game on your channel! 💖
What a great experience! This is a piece of art.
Thank you so much! 🧡
The game has a lot of sensitivity. I created a new channel and The Alchemy Among Us was my first video.
Oh no way! Congrats to the new channel, and thank you so much for playing my game first on there! 🧡 You really build up the suspense there in the last few seconds with getting so awkward 😅
Sundown in the city is one of the most beautiful sights you'll ever see, yet we can't keep our eyes off each other.
I invited him up here so we could finally get a moment alone for the first time in forever, but now that we're up here I can't think of a single good thing to say. I keep trying not to stare, but the way his shaggy hair ruffles in the breeze keeps catching the sun as if he was actually sparkling.
It feels like I've been here forever, stupidly trying to think of something to say. He must think I'm so weird, fidgeting here in silence. I glance over again to see him looking back at me, and the tension twists in my gut like a knife. Stupid! Stupid! You're such a weirdo!
I hear him shuffling on the stucco of the rooftop, and resist the urge to look again. Surely this is it: He's getting up to leave because I ruined everything. His hand brushes against mine... and settles there. The tension in my chest erupts into a warm cloud of butterflies that flush my cheeks to the beat of my pounding heart.
In my periphery I see him turning toward me, his mouth expectantly ajar. His eyes glance up to witness me viciously jerking my head in wide, flailing circles as the demon in control of my body finally asserts itself. My hair, overcome from the strain of whirling about my skull like a length of barbed chains, forces its way through the very material of my cranium, coming to rest somewhere in front of my neck.
As my dark lord and master makes his presence known before ushering in an age of eternal night our eyes lock for the final time, and the awkwardness of the moment peaks. His hand lifts away from mine and he shuffles back a pace, returning his gaze to the city skyline once more.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! This is not a review, this is a masterpiece, I’m gonna frame it. With that beautiful beginning I went from “awww” to laughing tears in the end. That twist was point on, and him moving away the nail in the coffin, so good! I am honestly surprised you are the first to mention the jank with her head and the hair, because I knew it was there 😅
Thank you so much, Nevakanezah! It’s so well written. This makes me so happy 💖
Bahaha. Awesome
let me just tell you i can see a story with this design, and concept even if you dont win, dont give up on the idea you can put this part of the story like in the end and tell how did they met or to show what the game is about, i never liked this types of games but man, this hits different
Thanks you much for the encouragement - I am already thinking about turning it into a “full” game! Means a lot to me, that the game hits differently for you, even though it’s not your type of game 🧡
adorably short with some really nice visuals and music that makes the perfect atmosphere
Thank you <3
Criticisms first: It was a bit jittery on my admittedly old laptop and I found the controls a bit frustrating as I couldn't look/look away when I wanted, it made me go down a couple levels a few times.
That said, wow you set the mood! The shadows, the sunset, the view! Did you base that off of a real view? The music and the cinematics of it were great! I think there is room for more mechanics for a potential full version - maybe when eye line meets, awkwardness goes up but alchemy accelerates for half a second?
Great work!
Critical feedback is always welcome 🙏 Sorry to hear you had performance issues, and how it impacted your controls. Ran out of time to optimize, of course 😅
I’m so happy though you still like it! No, it’s not based on a real view. I tried out a lot of things. Originally I had planned that they sit directly in a big city. It kind of just evolved. But there was definitely some influence from the vapor-/synthwave aesthetic (big sun, city background, sharp edges).
I am thinking about making a full version. Cool idea with the boost, actually already played with a similar idea when making the game. For a full game I definitely need a more interactive environment, more to do than “just” looking at each other. But I am very fond of the vibe & simplicity of the concept, so I want to keep that a theme.
Lovely game! Good interpretation of the game jam theme. Captivating.
Thanks! 🙌
The Alchemy Between Us Walkthrough
Oh that’s so cool! Thank you for playing it on your channel <3 Hope you liked it!
Very short, very simple gameplay, but so charming and the visuals and the sound design are just beautiful. This is a piece of art.
Thank you so much 🧡
What a beautiful scene! The windy hair looks amazing :)
Thank you! :)
Would love to love it. but apparently it's impossible for me to run on my computer. sat here a solid 20 minutes without it even getting the two characters on screen yet after struggling to click "Play". I don't know what's so CPU intensive cus my computer usually handles things OK.. seen the reddit post and the game looks incredible. but apparently you need the latest greatest gaming PC to play it and I'm too poor to play. still love the concept. wish it was more accessible.[EDIT: forgot to mention - 100% CPU when trying to play. no idea why]
I’m really sorry to hear that, thanks for letting me know! Wish I did some optimizing and added some graphics settings, but I ran out at the end of the game jam. Thank you so much for trying anyways, even for 20 minutes! 🫶
For reference, if you don’t mind, can you tell me the specs of your computer? Like CPU/GPU/RAM? You can also send me a DM on reddit if you prefer: u/lost_potato_in_space
I think doing this back and forth looking thing in real life might be the actual akward thing XD but it's a pretty cute game, i finished and i'm satisfied with the end, also, it left me a small feeling of nostalgia or something after I finished, as if I was already engaged with the story and it's characters... interesting.
So nice you got that feeling about it, thank you so much for playing! 🧡 And your not wrong about the awkward thing, haha :D
So beautiful!
Thank you <3
Wow! Such a unique idea and concept, I like it!
Except of this, the graphics and ambient sound give this game more feelings, such as the alchemy of these two characters.
Good job, 10/10 :)
Thank you 🫶 I’m glad you like it!
How freaking cute. This is a brilliant idea.
Audacious take on the theme, love that! It was sometimes a bit frustrating, especially when the awkward bar was too high, it felt kinda obligated to "break it" in order to start over. But I see the design choice and respect it : It felt stressful and exciting.
Congratulations on the art, cosy, calm and warm, we felt the alchemy between them. :)
Bravo!
I’m glad you felt the alchemy :) Yes, I’d like there to be a little challenge, but it shouldn’t feel frustrating. Maybe the awkward bar needs some more balancing. Thank you for playing & the kind words! 🧡
Very cute!
Thanks so much for playing! 🙌
Really cute idea and I love how shy they both move towards eachother! Well done!
Thank you, glad you like it! 🫶
such a unique interpretation of alchemy and shadows, the gameplay is also sth I've never seen before, so cute!
Thank you! 😊
This is adorable and stunning. A great example why steam should rethink the 2h refund policy. An experience is not about time, and this was incredible wordless story telling. The art is gorgeous, music is fitting… The only negative thing I can mention is that I felt slightly annoyed the awkward-meter did not reset when “leveling up”. Very well done, Bravo!
Thank you for your kind words 🫶 And, about the awkward meter, didn’t want to make it too easy 😉 But you’re right, maybe it needs some more balancing. Were you set back a level often or how did it annoy you?
Really nice game well done
Thank you so much 🙏
Wow I love the art style. I also really got into the rythm of this, nice stuff!
Thank you, so nice you got into it 🧡
so cuuute! I love it
Thaaanks! 🙌
Absolutely gorgeous scene, the way the sunset makes everything bleed orange. Just sat there without playing for a hot minute to be honest. I really liked the transition back to the title when the game finished, super smooth :)
That’s so nice, thank you for playing! 🧡