This Stunning Indie Platformer Features an Inaccessible Zone to Protect Imaginary Dogs from Harm

Nifflas, the Swedish mastermind behind indie gems like Knytt, NightSky, and Uurnog, is gearing up to launch a new puzzle platformer titled Rhythm Doggo. This vibrant platforming adventure lets you step into the paws of a human transformed into a dog, navigating a rhythm-infused world where you alter the music to solve puzzles. It sounds incredible! The game also features a network of interconnected rooms filled with the avatars of past players’ dogs, ensuring they’re not left in a void, as Nifflas couldn’t bear to abandon them.

Let’s be clear: Nicklas “Nifflas” Nygren doesn’t believe the dogs are real. However, after putting in the effort to code, design, and animate a character, it holds a special significance, especially when that character is a Good Boy.

In a discussion on Bluesky, Nifflas shared that he created a series of small rooms linked by doors that “exist outside the map” of Rhythm Doggo. He explains that for the sake of coding simplicity, he avoids frequently removing or creating entities. So, when a quest is completed and a dog exits the scene, “it’s simpler to move it out of the map than unloading the entity.” Yet, he admits, “I felt bad for the dog to end up in an empty void outside the map.”

These connected rooms serve as a space for the dogs to “hang out with each other.” While he reassures that he hasn’t lost his mind, he adds, “but somehow it feels like I’m nicer to them if I do it this way.” So, what do the dogs do in this backroom area? “There’s no code that makes them interact in this state,” Nifflas notes, “but how can I be sure they don’t go all ‘Toy Story’ when nobody is watching?” A valid concern indeed.

If you haven’t yet experienced Nifflas’ games, you’re in for a treat. From 2006’s Within a Deep Forest to the Knytt series and titles like Saira, NightSky, and Uurnog, he has crafted a diverse array of platforming experiences, with the remarkable Ynglet being his latest release in 2021. While there’s no set release date for Rhythm Doggo just yet, it’s definitely on my Wishlist.