I love The Quarter Game by LAME Dimension. Right away, the developer and publisher give you a quick hack-and-slash ride. Recent Steam reviews call out its catchy music and classic arcade feel. Players also mention the simple art style and fun combos—for example, one person said the pause-screen drawing made them laugh. Some do point out that the combat can feel a bit rough, but it never disrupts the action. I also loved finding hidden secrets in each level, just like exploring an open world. Fun fact: LAME Dimension often builds prototypes in 24 hours to try out new ideas.
When it comes to gameplay, I’m a fan of the wavedash and quarter-shine moves. Using a quarter to bounce back bullets feels fresh. On top of that, you can link huge sword combos and dodge bullets like you’re in a bullet-hell game. They blend beat ’em up and bullet-hell styles really well. The controls click after a minute, though there are no in-game instructions—you just have to learn by playing. It reminded me of Hyper Light Drifter and Enter the Gungeon. I also read that Jonatan Söderström once praised similar mash-ups in indie games. Not too surprising that LAME Dimension used GameMaker Studio to speed up development.
If you’re into speedruns, this game is built for it. The developer even challenges you to beat their best time. Most community runs take about five minutes using four quarters. After your run, you unlock a cooler quarter that reflects bullets for extra flair. Even better, you can jump straight to the level-four boss, where a hidden bunny Easter egg waits. Players love the unlimited continues—no more pouring quarters into a real arcade machine. Clearly, LAME Dimension knows how to hook speedrunners. Personally, I hit my first five-minute run in just two tries.
I carefully uncovered every secret, mapped each room, and smiled at the little sister’s cute cutscene cameos. Mashiro’s quest to save her CEO kept me hooked, while a gallery of quirky enemies—from crab-headed mutants to giant spiders—added whimsy. Developer notes on stage design show a smart balance of art and function, with bright pixel sprites set against simple backgrounds that keep the focus on fast action. The soundtrack—especially the catchy first-level theme—and crisp hit sounds make every fight pop. It runs smoothly at 60 FPS on PC, and instead of voiceovers, it uses punchy text dialogue. With plenty of secrets, upgrades, and speedrun leaderboards, the short campaign begs for replay.
If you love fast, clever gunplay, Enter the Gungeon’s hidden rooms and weapon combos will grab you, just like The Quarter Game’s speedrun thrills. Hyper Light Drifter offers top-down action, a subtle story, stunning pixel art, and a moody soundtrack. Super Ledgehop Double Laser from LAME Dimension hones your platforming skills with deadly lasers and shows how the dev has grown. Neon Abyss mixes bullet-hell and roguelike elements with endless item combos, bright neon colors, and daily speedrun boards. For a more stripped-down challenge, Downwell lets you drop down a well with gun boots in short, adrenaline-packed runs that test your reflexes.
