Agar.io
Game info
The online multiplayer game Agar.io allows you to control a cell living on a virtual "petri dish" together with the cells of other players. The main task is constant growth, achieved by absorbing edible particles and other cells. At the same time, you have to try not to be eaten by your opponents. The whole game takes place on a giant-sized field, where a large number of players can be at the same time.
As the cells grow, the speed of their movement decreases. This is a basic mechanic to achieve game balance, as small cells cannot absorb larger ones, but have the speed and maneuverability to escape. Hiding from larger opponents is also helped by neutral green masses where you can't be absorbed. Large cells cannot hide in such masses. Moreover, a collision with this object ends with the cell disintegrating into small pieces, which increases its vulnerability to other players.
Basic gameplay features
The creators of Agar.io have endowed the game characters with the ability not only to move and absorb but also to split into parts (two, four, or more). It would seem, why split up when so much effort has been put into growth? There are actually several good reasons:
- In regions where food is plentiful, dividing will allow for faster collection of nutritious material
- In dangerous situations, splitting will allow you to sacrifice part of your cell by feeding it to another player. The latter, in this case, increases in size and becomes slower, well, and you shed excess mass, increasing speed and maneuverability for escape
Of course, the separation must be managed wisely. So, divided and surrounded by small cells, the player risks being swallowed by them.
Also, in Agar.io, players can shoot each other. Use this feature wisely, as the shot is taken directly from the body of your cell, reducing its size. The object being shot must be larger than the one being absorbed, as otherwise, the target cell will itself absorb the mass released into it.
Addictive simplicity
The Agar.io game is quite simple technically. So, despite the presence of online mode, the functions of the latter are only basic: there is no chat, no selection of players, no search for friends, and no private games. And from the visual point of view, the project is extremely simple and even minimalistic.
But despite this simplicity, the game quickly gained popularity, giving rise to a whole new genre and a lot of imitators. Simple yet fascinating game mechanics make you immerse yourself in a virtual petri dish, fighting for survival in the microcosm.
One of the success factors is that the player is constantly forced to be on guard. One has to remember that being consumed means losing all progress and starting one's growth all over again.