A WebGL game where you deliver messages on a tiny planet

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Visuals, Atmosphere & Writing

  • Widespread praise for the art style, cel-shading, outlines, and “tiny planet” aesthetic; many call it one of the most beautiful web games they’ve seen.
  • The mood is described as cozy, peaceful, and Ghibli-like, with some comparing the vibe to various exploration-focused indie and console games.
  • Music, ambient sound, and “voice” bleeps are seen as crucial to the experience; several say the audio alone could stand on its own.
  • Dialog is noted as witty and surprisingly poignant, especially a few side stories (e.g., midlife crisis in a cave, the lost child).

Performance & Technical Design

  • Players are impressed by how smoothly it runs in the browser, including on low-end phones, old laptops, and foldables.
  • The small download size (~5–17 MB) and seamless streaming of assets are highlighted as a showcase for good web game design.
  • Technical curiosity focuses on Three.js + WebGL, WASM workers, KTX2 textures (Basis), Draco-compressed meshes, and WebSocket-based multiplayer.
  • The “tiny planet” effect is believed to be shader-based curvature rather than full physical planetoid simulation.

Controls, Camera & UX

  • Movement is intuitive for some (especially on desktop), but a major thread of criticism targets the “smart camera”: too close, too sensitive, overcorrecting, and hard to aim.
  • Many report motion sickness or nausea, particularly on mobile and in portrait mode; suggestions include FOV slider, dampened camera movement, mouse/twin-stick look, and explicit camera controls.
  • Lack of tutorial is polarizing: some love discovering mechanics organically; others can’t figure out how to start quests or deliver messages and want at least a minimal “How to play,” mini-map, or clearer prompts.
  • Several players get stuck in geometry and ask for a “reset position” option.

Multiplayer & Communication

  • Many are pleasantly surprised it’s multiplayer; other runners are real players, not NPCs.
  • Nonverbal communication via emojis and jumping is widely appreciated, with comparisons to games that use wordless interaction.
  • Some want richer nonverbal tools; others are explicitly glad there’s no text chat, citing safety for children.

World Design, Secrets & Topology

  • The compact spherical world is praised as dense, full of detail, and rewarding to explore; players enjoy hunting for secrets (alien, UFO, sloth, rooftop NPC, sewer, playground).
  • A few dislike invisible walls and water barriers that break the illusion of a fully traversable tiny planet.

Broader Impact & Reception

  • Many call it a “masterpiece,” “art,” or a benchmark for web-based games, evoking nostalgia for the Flash/Newgrounds era but at a far higher level of craft.
  • Some express feelings of humility or inspiration as developers, seeing it as a masterclass in small-scope, highly polished browser experiences.