IGF submitted games are coming out of the woodwork now that the submission process is officially over. While we don’t have a complete list of games submit ed quite yet — the IGF has released them — we have been able to find quite a few. Today’s game is called Trail and it was created by two developers who formerly worked at Lionhead Studios and created their own studio called Bit By Bit Games.

Trail is an interesting game. First, the developers are dubbing it a “short” game. In fact, in their email to me they even state that they’re following the original Pixar model of creating shorts which allow we gamers to experience new technology/ideas that simply don’t work when expanded. Those of you who are big Pixar fans will remember that Pixar started out in very much a similar way prior to creating their first full length feature film Toy Story.

So Trail is the first “short” this studios has created… and it’s certainly an interesting one.

Trail is an experimental, minimalist platformer inspired by a child’s belief about death. Trail explores the idea that you leave a trail in the world as you journey through life and when you
eventually die you need to collect this trail to achieve final peace.

The game has two states, a living world and a dead world. In the living world you drop memories behind you as you progress. After you are killed you enter the dead world where your goal is to reach the first memory you left in the world. In the dead world your ‘health’ constantly falls as you struggle to remain in this plane of existence, collecting memories as your traverse back across the level towards your ultimate goal will replenish your health.

Trail will be released for free in the coming weeks. In the mean time enjoy the trailer below.

[Bit By Bit Games]

Trailer