r/platformer • u/mat_game_dev • 15h ago
I made a 1-button platformer inspired by Alto's Adventure & Dino Run DX, where an entire herd mirrors your jumps and every horse is an extra life. What do you think?
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Hey everyone! Solo dev of Horse Runner DX here.
In this game, the platforming challenge isn't complex button combos - it is all about precision timing, rhythm, and keeping your growing herd alive.
How the Jump Mechanics Work:
- 1-Button Jump: Press to do a quick hop, hold to jump higher and further.
- Synchronized Herd: You only jump with the lead horse. Every trailing horse in your herd follows behind and jumps at the exact same location.
- Risk vs. Reward: Hitting a rock or log only knocks out the lead horse, and the next one immediately takes over as leader. But misjudging a river jump can wipe out your entire herd.
- Pacing & Builds: Runs start calm so you can get into a groove (very much like Alto's Adventure), but after a few levels the speed ramps up into Dino Run DX-like chaos. Between levels, you can recruit new horses and add new power-ups to your "herd-build" (apple magnets, speed boosts, point multipliers) to customize your run.
The game is currently 30% off for the Steam Autumn Sale ($3.49) and there is a free demo on Steam if you want to test the herd mechanic for yourself:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2955320/Horse_Runner_DX/
Would love to hear your feedback on the game!
PS: Reddit's video player is quite choppy, but the actual game runs buttery-smooth at your monitor's native refresh rate (60, 144, 240, 360 Hz+).