Devolver Digital joins the E3 live stream with a presentation filled with satirical skits and indie game trailers. Devolver Digital offered a first look at its upcoming physics-based puzzle game, Tumble Time, which takes hilarious jabs at predatory practices in mobile games.
Devolver Digital's Tumble Time trailer presents the title as a typical mobile game, advertised as free, but containing additional purchases and an abundance of ads. The gameplay of Tumble Time is shown off throughout the trailer, resembling simple puzzle mobile games like Candy Crush and Bejeweled. The gameplay is overshadowed by the satirical pitch that Tumble Time will allow players to "ignore loved ones, reprioritize your life, and let it consume your very being."
While the game is published by Devolver Digital, Tumble Time is developed by small video game and digital toy company Nopopo. The Tumble Time trailer takes another jab at mobile games by advertising the ability to spend real money on in-game money, to collect unknown characters. The trailer even depicts a mobile loot box as a trash can, which pops out Piku, a character from Devolver Digital's hit game from 2019, Pikuniku.
Tumble Time will feature a slew of "characters you've never even heard of," which players will be able to collect. The feature is an obvious shot at the monetization of mobile games, which are known to release a ton of characters or collectible items behind a paywall. The satirical approach to the trailer may have fans wondering if Tumble Time will actually monetize characters and content, or just crack jokes about it.
Tumble Time will release later this year on both the Google Play Store and the Apple Store, but no concrete release date is given. While Tumble Time is advertised as a predatory mobile game, it most likely will be the complete opposite. Devolver Digital markets the game as containing engaging monetization and strategic brand integration, but will most likely be filled with comedic shots at other predatory mobile games.
Devolver Digital's E3 presentation has been filled with hilarious industry-defying content and has delivered unique game previews like Tumble Time. Devolver Digital also previewed games from various genres like the survival sandbox title Wizard with a Gun and the mysteriously creepy card game Inscryption.
Tumble Time is expected to release later in 2021 on Android and iOS devices.