Toby: The Secret Mine

Lore & Background

Toby: The Secret Mine is a side-scrolling puzzle platformer with black silhouette graphics. Its gameplay is very similar to Limbo but its atmosphere is much less dark and its world is much more colorful. The player controls Toby through multiple levels set in varied environments such as forests, caves, a mine, and blizzard. Puzzles must be solved to progress, and traps that can be easily overlooked are present, varying by environment; blizzard levels focus heavily on timed platforming. Hidden kidnapped friends add an element of exploration. The game consists of 21 separate levels.

The plot follows Toby, who lives in a nameless town whose residents are being kidnapped by red-eyed cats. Toby sets out on an adventurous journey to save his friends, pursuing them through a Lost Mine full of dangers and traps set by kidnappers. He eventually reaches the kidnappers' hideout and defeats their leader. The leader offers Toby his crown, and the player is given a choice: accept the crown or kill the kidnapper. If Toby takes the crown, his eyes turn red and he becomes the new leader; his friends turn evil, and Toby is seen standing on a cliff as his homeworld burns. If Toby kills the kidnapper, his friends are freed and they return home.

The game was in development for one and a half years, inspired by Limbo, Nihilumbra, Type:Rider, and other games. Navrátil worked alone and had to deal with the difficulty of his lack of experience. The game was released on Steam via Steam Greenlight in October 2015. An iOS version is currently planned, and the Nintendo Switch version was released in Japan on July 9, 2020.

Reader's Guide

Toby: The Secret Mine is significant as a 2015 puzzle-platformer that closely resembles Limbo in gameplay but distinguishes itself with a less dark atmosphere and more colorful world. Developed solo by Lukáš Navrátil over one and a half years, the game was inspired by Limbo, Nihilumbra, and Type:Rider. Its release on Steam via Steam Greenlight in October 2015 marked a milestone for the independent developer, who overcame a lack of experience to complete the project. The game's reception, as noted by Gone With the Win, was critical of its similarities to Limbo but praised its charm and gameplay, while also criticizing the guesswork required in puzzles; it received a positive review overall with a 7/10. The game's legacy includes a planned iOS version and a Nintendo Switch release in Japan on July 9, 2020. Its branching narrative, where the player's choice to accept or refuse the kidnapper's crown leads to different endings, adds a notable element of player agency. The inclusion of hidden kidnapped friends encourages exploration across its 21 levels, which feature varied environments and traps that require alertness, particularly in blizzard levels focused on timed platforming.

Did You Know?

• The game was developed by Lukáš Navrátil alone over one and a half years.
• The player can choose to accept the kidnapper's crown or kill him, leading to different endings.