I recently wanted to play a new game from my Steam catalog so I picked a game from the Humble Bundle 8: Little Inferno. I knew a bit about the game before I started, the basic premise is that you burn things in your fireplace. I thought that sounded interesting enough and so I installed it on my Mac and gave it a go. For the next three hours and twelve minutes I was hooked to my computer until I finally completed the game. My experience with the game was nothing short of magical and I seriously recommend you beat this game. It's not enough to simply play the the game halfway, this game needs you to finish it. I'll try and explain why without spoiling it, but really, to experience the full majesty of Little Inferno you really ought to complete it.

the tone

This game's universe and story are strange. But strange in a very dystopian, future telling, environmental, fun and magical way. The game isn't preachy but it does have something to say about combustion and consumerism. Again, the game never really comes out and states one way or the other about it, but it paints a picture of a world where people consume things to destroy them and shows off what that may actually look like. In a way, Little Inferno is even a bit meta about gaming in what you are doing and how you progress. I am leaving out some key details, but I am trying to keep this all spoiler free.

That all said, the games tone is really unique and is somewhere between one of the best Tim Burton films coupled with some magical dystopian future.

what this game is all about

The majority of Little Inferno has you burning things to make money, find combos to unlock the ability to buy and burn more things. During your search for combos and making money you are sent letters by your neighbor and messages from The Weatherman. The game has a very compelling story but this is where I stop talking about it, because again, it should be experienced all the way to the end, spoiler free.

the music

Kyle Gabler wrote the music for Little Inferno and because of his efforts he just went on my list of game composers to follow. The score to Little Inferno really helps the magical tone of the game come to light in a way that makes everything it is trying to do click. Coupled with the lush and beautiful art direction, the score accentuates the games flavor. Since I picked up Little Inferno in the Humble Bundle 8, it came with the score and it even up outside the game too.

final thoughts

For me, Little Inferno ranks as high as some of the most magical movies I have seen in terms of its power to captivate my imagination. It does so much with so little and that is a real accomplishment given many large studios march to huge budget shooter titles. Little Inferno also shows me just how imaginative and awesome the Indie Game revolution really is. Where many Indie Games are repeating beats from the past, Little Inferno takes us in a new direction that feels familiar and then spins the game around and ends on such a beautiful and touching note.

I'll end with a quote from the games end as best as I can remember it, because it has stuck with me ever since.

"But what happens when you have achieved your dreams? Well, then it's time to get bigger dreams."

I hope Tomorrow Corporation, the developers of Little Inferno keep dreaming.

http://tomorrowcorporation.com/