Is there any reason for making a full fledged videogame limited to a single button? The 'one switch games' (or one-button games), for a long time, have been associated to disabilities: gamers with limited mobility with their arms or hands can't deal with complex controllers.

There is a lot to learn about but, long story short, some retail games can now be played in easy mode with less and customizable controls and few specific and mostly obscure games can be played using a single button.

Time passed and mobile gaming created a generation of 'sane disabled': you've a lot of space on modern touch screens, but 'true mobile gaming' is limited to portrait mode and only one thumb. After all, during your metro ride, one hand is hanged somewhere, the best grip you can get on the 'sane' hand is portrait, since all fingers can be used for holding the device and the only interaction you can offer is a short swipe with your thumb - probaby just a single tap.

But is this limit enough for limiting gameplays to the basics, like Flappy Bird (2013) did? Despite a lot of people think that simplier controllers lead to simplier or casual gameplays, there are a plethora of obvious examples that's wrong: 8-bit age hosted many hardcore videogames, mostly known because of their difficult and complex gameplay like the Mario, Zelda and Megaman series.

All of these games were played using a joystick or a D-pad and one or two buttons - a lot less buttons than in a modern controllers. Many rhythm games uses simple controllers but can get really YouTube-or-not-happened hard. In Nintendo's NES Remix (2013) some Super Mario Bros. (1985) segments have to be played with auto-run and just using the jump button, making even the first stages harder but still surprisingly enjoyable.

People want to understimate simple controls because you've to be a very skilled game designer in order to make something fun, which is challenging, pricey and risky. A good example on doing it right? Nitrome's Leap Day (2016) is an excellent one: they delivered a true platformer, with Super Meat Boy (2010) difficulty and Super Mario Bros. 3 (1988) design but playable with just a single button. Download it on your mobile and check by yourself. Menwhile...

Plot!

Comets crosses the sky for years and years but they can get tired too! That's why, every day, one of them take a break on the top of one of the Sleepycomet towers. It's a great deal for Starcat, the greatest of the star collectors! Start from the bottom of the daily tower, jump and slide along the walls, get all the small stars, avoid enemies and spikes and reach the top! Use the BUTTON for jumping and... that's all! And remember: every day there is a brand new tower and a comet to catch!

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