Cactile Games & dofhouse's latest indie platformer release, 'Refund This Game' is centered around how Steam's refund policies are a part of its core gameplay loop. Essentially, you're tasked with completing the game within the regular two-hour time limit that Steam requires to be eligible for refunds. It's a major boon for cost-conscious gamers looking to try out a challenge that they might not have enough money to spare for if they're confident enough in their own ability to complete it within that time frame.
Indie platformer turns Steam's refund policy into a core gameplay mechanic
Refund This Game was released on Steam on October 12, with a global launch. Essentially, it's a brutally hard obstacle course where you'll need to make your way through intricate stages with relatively little hand-holding. It's all about timing and accuracy under the strict time constraints that are set up through Steam's refund policies.
A specific achievement can be earned if you can beat the game in less than two hours. This is the "official" completion proof for the game, as part of its premise. There are plenty of tricky jumps and pitfalls to contend with, but there's only one movable checkpoint you can use to help you try specific areas again.
Currently, Refund This Game is on sale for $3.99 USD, down from its regular $4.99 price. This promotional discount will last through October 26. According to the devs, the refund policy adds the proper amount of pressure required for the challenge, so players take the two-hour time limit quite seriously.
It's an interesting overlap of game design with digital store policies. It's an interesting experience, especially for folks that like high-challenge platformers and want to use the refund option to hedge their bets against failure.
Source: DEXERTO
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