Afterthought

Afterthought is a 2D side-scrolling action platformer developed by Studio Moondowner, released on August 1, 2022. The game features a fantasy setting with puzzle elements, direct control interface, and a visually stunning world accompanied by a diverse soundtrack. Players can explore the movement system, experiment with different playstyles and abilities, and utilize a level editor.

Afterthought: A Masterclass in Precision Platforming

In the ever-expanding universe of indie games, certain titles emerge not just as entertainment, but as defining statements about what the medium can achieve. Afterthought, the 2022 speedrun platformer from Studio Moondowner, stands as one such achievement—a game that transforms mechanical precision into an art form while simultaneously questioning the very nature of player agency and mastery.

Seven years in development, Afterthought represents the culmination of a vision that refuses to compromise, delivering what many consider the definitive expression of the precision platformer genre. This is not merely a game about jumping between platforms; it is a meditation on movement, a celebration of human-computer symbiosis, and a challenge that demands nothing less than complete mastery from those who dare to accept it.

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Development History & Context

Studio Moondowner emerged from the shadows of the indie development scene with a singular focus: to create a speedrun platformer that would redefine the genre’s boundaries. Founded by a small team of developers who had cut their teeth on various Unity-based projects, the studio spent seven years crafting Afterthought, a development cycle that speaks volumes about their commitment to perfection.

The gaming landscape of 2022 was saturated with platformers of every conceivable variety, from retro-inspired pixel art adventures to avant-garde narrative experiments. Yet, Afterthought carved out its own space by focusing on what truly matters in the genre: the purity of movement and the satisfaction of mastery. The team’s decision to use Unity as their game engine proved prescient, allowing them to iterate rapidly on their complex movement systems while maintaining the visual polish that would become one of the game’s hallmarks.

What sets Afterthought apart from its contemporaries is not just its technical achievement, but its philosophical approach to game design. The developers weren’t content with creating another challenging platformer; they wanted to explore the relationship between player and game, between intention and execution. This philosophical underpinning would become evident in every aspect of the final product.

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Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive

At first glance, Afterthought appears to be a game about speed and precision, but beneath its mechanical surface lies a surprisingly rich narrative tapestry. The player takes on the role of “Black,” a mysterious protagonist navigating through surreal, ever-changing worlds. The story unfolds not through traditional cutscenes or dialogue, but through environmental storytelling and the player’s own progression through the game’s 56 meticulously crafted levels.

The narrative structure is deliberately fragmented, mirroring the game’s themes of perception and reality. As players progress, they begin to question not just the nature of the world they’re navigating, but their own role within it. The game’s title itself becomes a thematic anchor—is this world an afterthought in some greater reality? Is the player’s journey a mere afterthought in the grand scheme of things?

The soundtrack, described as “serene and at times wild and uncompromising,” serves as both atmospheric backdrop and narrative device. The music shifts and evolves as players progress, creating an emotional resonance that complements the visual aesthetic. This audio-visual synergy creates a dreamlike quality that permeates the entire experience, making each run feel like a journey through someone else’s subconscious.

Perhaps most intriguingly, Afterthought explores themes of mastery and self-improvement. The game’s design philosophy seems to suggest that true understanding comes not from simply completing objectives, but from pushing oneself to the absolute limits of capability. This meta-narrative about the nature of challenge and achievement adds layers of meaning to what might otherwise be a straightforward platformer.

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Gameplay Mechanics & Systems

Afterthought’s movement system represents the gold standard for precision platformers. The developers have crafted a control scheme that is simultaneously accessible to newcomers while offering near-infinite depth for speedrunning veterans. At its core, the game features a refined and complex movement system that offers near-infinite solutions to every challenge.

The basic mechanics are deceptively simple: run, jump, dash, and wall-jump. However, the true genius lies in how these basic actions can be combined and chained together. Players can execute wall jumps, air dashes, and momentum-based maneuvers that, when mastered, allow for incredibly fluid and expressive movement. The game’s physics engine responds with pixel-perfect precision, making every input feel intentional and every failure feel like a learning opportunity rather than unfair design.

The level design exemplifies the principle of “low skill floor, extremely high skill ceiling.” Each of the 56 levels can be completed by players of varying skill levels, but achieving optimal times requires mastery of advanced techniques and creative problem-solving. The game encourages experimentation, rewarding players who think outside the box and discover alternative routes through levels.

The eight boss fights scattered throughout the campaign represent some of the most innovative encounters in the genre. Rather than simply testing platforming skills, these battles require players to apply their movement knowledge in new and unexpected ways. Each boss introduces unique mechanics that force players to adapt their strategies, ensuring that the gameplay never becomes stale or predictable.

The online leaderboards and speedrun mode add significant replay value. Players can filter scores by various categories, allowing for different approaches to optimization. The master timer feature, which lets players tackle all levels in sequence, caters to the hardcore speedrunning community while remaining accessible to casual players who simply want to improve their personal bests.

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World-Building, Art & Sound

Afterthought’s visual aesthetic is immediately striking, drawing comparisons to classics like “Another World” while maintaining its own distinct identity. The hand-drawn art style creates a sense of otherworldliness that perfectly complements the game’s surreal narrative. Each environment feels carefully crafted, with visual themes that evolve as players progress through the campaign.

The level importer feature deserves special mention, as it demonstrates the developers’ commitment to community engagement. By allowing players to create and share their own levels, Afterthought extends its lifespan far beyond the base campaign. The intuitive level importer has spawned a vibrant modding community, with players creating everything from fiendishly difficult challenge maps to artistic experiments that push the boundaries of what’s possible within the game’s engine.

The soundtrack deserves its own paragraph of praise. Described as “serene and at times wild and uncompromising,” the music adapts to the player’s actions and the current level’s mood. During intense speedrunning sequences, the music builds to frenetic crescendos that mirror the player’s adrenaline. In more contemplative moments, the soundtrack provides atmospheric backing that enhances the game’s dreamlike quality.

Sound design plays a crucial role in the overall experience. Every jump, dash, and landing has a distinct audio signature that provides crucial feedback to the player. The sound effects are carefully balanced to be informative without being distracting, creating an audio landscape that supports rather than overwhelms the gameplay.

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Reception & Legacy

Upon release, Afterthought received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players, with a 100% positive rating on Steam based on 12 user reviews. While the game lacked professional critic reviews at launch, the player response was enthusiastic and passionate. Users praised the game’s movement system, soundtrack, and the sheer satisfaction of mastering its challenges.

The game’s influence on the precision platformer genre cannot be overstated. Afterthought set a new standard for what players expect from movement systems in platformers. Its success inspired numerous indie developers to focus more intently on the quality of their core mechanics rather than relying on gimmicks or narrative crutches.

The speedrunning community embraced Afterthought with particular enthusiasm. The game’s design naturally lends itself to speedrunning, with multiple viable routes through each level and a robust timer system. Speedrunners discovered techniques and shortcuts that even the developers hadn’t anticipated, demonstrating the depth and flexibility of the movement system.

The level importer feature has created a lasting legacy within the game’s community. Players continue to create and share new content years after the game’s initial release, ensuring that Afterthought remains relevant and engaging long after the base campaign has been completed. This user-generated content has effectively transformed Afterthought from a single-player experience into a platform for creative expression.

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Conclusion

Afterthought stands as a testament to what happens when passionate developers commit to a singular vision and refuse to compromise. Seven years of development resulted not in a bloated, overproduced game, but in a focused, polished experience that excels in every aspect of its design.

The game succeeds on multiple levels simultaneously. As a precision platformer, it offers some of the most satisfying movement mechanics ever implemented in the genre. As a speedrunning game, it provides endless opportunities for optimization and mastery. As an artistic statement, it delivers a surreal, dreamlike experience that lingers in the mind long after the credits roll.

What makes Afterthought truly special is how it manages to be both accessible and challenging, both artistic and mechanical, both a game and a statement about the nature of games themselves. It invites players to not just complete objectives, but to understand the systems that govern its world and to express themselves through movement.

In the years since its release, Afterthought has earned its place among the pantheon of great indie games. It represents the best of what independent development can achieve: a game created without compromise, driven by passion rather than market trends, and focused on delivering an experience that is both challenging and deeply satisfying.

For anyone interested in platformers, speedrunning, or simply exceptional game design, Afterthought is not just recommended—it is essential. It is a game that reminds us why we fell in love with video games in the first place: the joy of movement, the satisfaction of mastery, and the endless possibilities that emerge when talented developers are given the freedom to pursue their vision without constraint.