Little Inferno
A sandbox puzzle game about burning objects in a fireplace.
Little Inferno is a puzzle video game developed and published by the American independent game developer Tomorrow Corporation. Released for the Wii U in November 2012 in North America, Europe, and Australasia, with versions for Microsoft Windows, iOS, OS X, Linux, and Android following throughout 2013, and a Nintendo Switch version in March 2017, the game is set in front of a brick fireplace where the player sets various objects on fire. It is classified as a sandbox game with few traditional objectives and no states of failure, designed as a satire of video games that require long hours performing unrewarding tasks.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Little Inferno
- Developer
- Tomorrow Corporation
- Publisher
- Tomorrow Corporation · Experimental Gameplay Group (iOS)
- Platforms
- Wii U · Microsoft Windows · iOS · OS X · Linux · Android · Nintendo Switch
- Genre
- Puzzle
- Modes
- Single-player
- Producer
- Kyle Gabler
- Designer
- Kyle Gabler · Kyle Gray
- Programmer
- Allan Blomquist
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Little Inferno is the debut game by Tomorrow Corporation, an independent studio founded in 2010 by Kyle Gray, Kyle Gabler, and Allan Blomquist. Gabler and Blomquist previously worked on World of Goo, while Gray worked on Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure. Inspired by the 'Yule Log' TV program, the team aimed to create a game that started with an underwhelming premise but became surprisingly engaging. The game was announced in August 2012 and released as a launch title for the Wii U in November 2012 in North America only, with versions for other platforms following shortly after. It was localized into several languages, including Japanese, with Nintendo's help. After five years without updates, Tomorrow Corporation released the Ho Ho Holiday Expansion in December 2017, adding a Christmas-themed update.
Reader's Guide
Little Inferno garnered widely varied reactions upon its release. The Wii U and iOS versions received 'favorable' reviews, while the PC and Switch versions received 'average' reviews, according to Metacritic. Critics lauded the game's ability to stick with players long after playing, with Kotaku's Stephen Totilo admiring its simplicity and describing it as both 'quaint and bold.' However, some reviews criticized the game for its perceived high price relative to the gameplay, and the repetitive nature of the mechanics. IGN's Anthony Gallegos found the story too vague and the puzzles uninspired. The game won the award for Technical Excellence at the Independent Games Festival and received two Honorable Mentions, while being nominated for the Seumas McNally Grand Prize and the Nuovo Award. Its legacy lies in its satirical commentary on gaming culture and its unique, open-ended gameplay that encourages experimentation.
Did You Know?
- Little Inferno was the debut game by Tomorrow Corporation, founded by developers who worked on World of Goo and Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure.
- The game's soundtrack was composed by Kyle Gabler from scratch, inspired by John Williams, Danny Elfman, and Vangelis.
- The game includes 98 possible Combos that the player can trigger by burning specific objects simultaneously.
More in Satirical video games 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced