I couldn't agree more: a one-page game is such a good creative challenge. It forces you to be clear, efficient, and to find the fun in the smallest amount of "game". From a playtesting and iterative design perspective, a one-page game is a great starting point regardless of your final goal.
That's a good point about using a one-page game as part of the design process. It does enforce clarity and brevity. It ensures the core game is playable and "fun" before all the extras start getting added on.
I think there's an analog there somewhere with board games and expansions. To me, the best expansions add more content (e.g. more player powers, more monsters, more maps, more scenarios, etc etc) rather than fundamentally changing the gameplay. Make the core game fun (one-page) and then give me a ton of stuff for it (expanded version).
I didn't submit anything, but I really enjoyed looking at the Postcards from the Front Jam hosted by Hissy Cat Studio. Received 48 entries of playable wargames that fit on postcards: https://itch.io/jam/postcards-from-the-front/entries
I've found every single time I create one, I have to tamp down the desire to just keep adding stuff to it, haha.
I also submitted to the jam with "Road Back Home" which was (and still is) a big departure from the types of games I both play and typically enjoy. But, like you said, it's the opportunity to experiment!
I've historically been more into polished, longer games, and calls for more one page and zine games did not move me. And then, while the One Page jam was running this summer, I found myself sitting on a plane and struck by a silly idea for a game about being a flight attendant. I wrote the game on my phone. It was so fun and impromptu, and I was like OH. I get it. I get the fun of the restriction, and the fun of making something small and spare. I know many people make very polished one page games! But I really enjoyed experiencing game design as a kind of play itself.
Thank you so much for sharing this! Love the idea of making a game before your flight lands! Did you end up submitting it for the jam? If so, please share a link!
Awesome review of Lacksmith. Sounds like a very interesting game.
Thank you! The dice mechanism is really interesting and deeper than a first glance might make you think.
You're welcome. I think I will have to check it out.
really happy that tactics.min and lacksmith have been cited! they were among my favourite entries from 2024.
I also tried my hand at the one-page-rpg for the first time last year: https://almoghost-exe.itch.io/unholy-disguise
...and I loved it! I'm 100% joining again this year
I like the classic Halloween/monster theme in your game! Looking forward to what you create for 2025.
Thanks for shouting out A Perfect Rock, EP!
I couldn't agree more: a one-page game is such a good creative challenge. It forces you to be clear, efficient, and to find the fun in the smallest amount of "game". From a playtesting and iterative design perspective, a one-page game is a great starting point regardless of your final goal.
You know I'm a big fan of A Perfect Rock!
That's a good point about using a one-page game as part of the design process. It does enforce clarity and brevity. It ensures the core game is playable and "fun" before all the extras start getting added on.
I think there's an analog there somewhere with board games and expansions. To me, the best expansions add more content (e.g. more player powers, more monsters, more maps, more scenarios, etc etc) rather than fundamentally changing the gameplay. Make the core game fun (one-page) and then give me a ton of stuff for it (expanded version).
Might write an article about that... 🤔
Hell, I keep making games that fit on single sides of *postcards* these days
Postcard games are even tougher!
I didn't submit anything, but I really enjoyed looking at the Postcards from the Front Jam hosted by Hissy Cat Studio. Received 48 entries of playable wargames that fit on postcards: https://itch.io/jam/postcards-from-the-front/entries
100% agreed on the value of 1PRPGs.
I've found every single time I create one, I have to tamp down the desire to just keep adding stuff to it, haha.
I also submitted to the jam with "Road Back Home" which was (and still is) a big departure from the types of games I both play and typically enjoy. But, like you said, it's the opportunity to experiment!
https://grinningrat.itch.io/road-back-home
I've historically been more into polished, longer games, and calls for more one page and zine games did not move me. And then, while the One Page jam was running this summer, I found myself sitting on a plane and struck by a silly idea for a game about being a flight attendant. I wrote the game on my phone. It was so fun and impromptu, and I was like OH. I get it. I get the fun of the restriction, and the fun of making something small and spare. I know many people make very polished one page games! But I really enjoyed experiencing game design as a kind of play itself.
Thank you so much for sharing this! Love the idea of making a game before your flight lands! Did you end up submitting it for the jam? If so, please share a link!
Here it is! https://mishagw.itch.io/the-friendly-skies
Thanks for taking the time to write this up. I've got more 1 page games to try now.
I also feel encouraged to try my hand at writing more of them. I published my first for the jam last year - https://mountainfoot.itch.io/the-awful-weekend-on-call
Thanks for reading it! All the games mentioned are worth trying!
Just one more game! :)