Mixolumia and Comfort

In 2020, my time and comfort have meant a lot to me. The more the year went on, everyday became a question of; why am I getting out of bed. The struggles society places on the Black community were magnified to soul-crushing levels throughout the year. I couldn’t play anything because my mind was overtaxed with the inequalities we regularly face. I then asked myself what can I engage with to help me remain calm one day at a time. I desperately needed some entertainment that would allow me a mental reprieve and the ability to relax. So, I sought out games that are fun and soothing as their design philosophy. I think no other game I’ve played better exemplified that than Mixolumia.

Mixolumia, developed by Dave Makes, is a block-clearing puzzler inspired by the likes of Tetris and Lumines. That kind of pedigree makes for a game that is both chill and competitive,  constantly encouraging you to top your best score. There’s five modes of play: marathon, endless, rush, intense, and relaxed. These modes range from quick, relaxed sessions to gameplay of the harshest difficulty. It features remappable controls and the ability to adjust visuals for disabled individuals, making it  the kind of game anyone can play.

Mixolumia is made from the ground up to help you decompress from your day. That’s not to say there aren’t “grander” titles that can’t do the same, nor is there anything wrong with their appeal, but there’s a much lower entry point here–it’s more welcoming. For most, a puzzle game is much less intimidating than say playing as an action hero . Honestly, I find that AAA games tend to be unnecessarily stressful in one way or another. Again, I wasn’t mentally in position to really just play anything that may be anxiety inducing. Thankfully, this game was developed to be stress-free from top to bottom. 

“I think I naturally gravitated towards designing the game by chasing what I needed from it,” creator Dave Makes said. “I honestly don’t think I could stand to work on a game that stressed me out. The game does really pick up, though, which I think rewards my tendency to hyper focus on something once it’s pulled me into that sort of meditative state.”

 Mixolumia is a game I didn’t know I needed. This past summer was the toughest I’ve experienced in life (see BLM protests). I wasn’t really able to engage with media like before. Near summer’s end, Mixolumia released on itch.io, and it was one of the first games of 2020  I was really able to connect with.I was able to fully engage in clearing blocks, enjoying the game’s music, and processing my own thoughts. See, generally, I’m the kind of person that thinks overthinks and multitasks constantly. When I played Mixolumia, I felt more and more comfortable with each play session because focusing on multiple things didn’t feel taxing. I could listen to a podcast, hold a conversation, and play at the same time, and, more importantly, I wasn’t trying hard to do so. I’m the type of person who doesn’t want nor seek escapism from their entertainment. I actually want to think about the things pressing on my mind, but on my own terms. Mixolumia gave me the ability to focus on something while still processing what’s going on. 

In the beginning, I found myself failing at the 5 minute mark repeatedly–I couldn’t amass more than 200,000 points. I found it interesting this was my wall, so I kept at it. Since then, I’ve achieved my first 1 million plus high score at 7 minutes and 30 seconds, which remains my current high score and new plateau. But despite these limits, throughout all the times I’ve played I haven’t felt an ounce of frustration. Sure, I’ve felt a little disappointed, but I always come back.

Games in Mixolumia can be a few minutes short, or last as long as you want. The commitment you invest is purely up to you. This is what brings me back to the larger point I’m trying to make–the time we spend with games are meaningful, but also subjective. After playing this game I’ve had three questions constantly at the forefront of my mind: am I having fun playing this, is playing this meaningful to me personally, and Is this helping me decompress from today. With Mixolumia, the answer to all of these is yes.

If I had to recommend just one game this year, it’s without question Mixolumia. It’s easy to pick up, accessible, relaxing, and a visual treat you can come back to time and time again. How many games do you know that can start in a little under 30 seconds? Not many, but Mixolumia can.