Loopback

"Loopback": Refers to communication where the sender and receiver are one and the same. Allowing a host machine send data to itself.

Description

In this game, you are a long forgotten memory de-fragmenter and system recovery tool found inside a failing cluster of servers! Can you re-stabalize the network? Or will the system eventually find its inevitable end?

Get The Highest Score You Can!

Background

This game was made in Godot 4.4.1 by one person (me :-)) for the GMTK 2025 Game Jam in 4 days!

Instructions

The game consists of a loop of cells, each either empty or containing a file to be fixed. Every "tick" all the cells move in a clock-wise fashion.

Your purpose as "Loopback" is to clean and fix the system by aligning files in triplets of the same color, allowing them to be handled by the OS.

You can do so by clicking on any cell and then clicking on an adjacent cell to switch them around! (to assist you the game slows down when you press the first cell). This takes energy of which you have a limited amount. Take care not to run out!

Do beware though! For every triplet cleaned some overhead is filled to the corresponding colored buffer. If you score too many files of the same type too quickly you risk overflowing its buffer and de-stabilizing the system!

Controls

• To switch between two adjacent cells click on them in short succession.
• To pause the game and open the pause menu press ESC or click the pause button on the top right.

Tips And Tricks

• Try to always keep same-colored files close together! If you score two triplets back to back you gain an extra combo bonus!
• Keep an eye out for the buffers, they naturally empty over time.
• You can edit many of the game options in the settings menu to make the game easier or harder.

Addendum

This game is not perfect, please tell me what you find good about it as well as bad. Adaptation is key!

v1.1: Fixed game not opening
v1.2: Adjusted game balance
v1.3: Changed opening text to be correct again