Untethered

🚀 Elevator Pitch

A 2D puzzle platformer where you help a balloonist rise through the sky.
Free your stuck hot air balloon by exploring the world, solving puzzles, and avoiding creatures — all in a charming pixel art style.

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🎮 Gameplay

- Explore vertical puzzle-platform levels split across five themed sections (city, clouds, snow, space...)
- Solve environmental challenges to free your balloon and continue the ascent
- Avoid hostile creatures — you can’t fight back, only sneak, dodge, or hide!
- Collect balloons to unlock new paths or raise platforms
- Interact with quirky NPCs to trade items or unlock secrets

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🧩 Features

• Challenging but fair puzzles
• Hand-crafted pixel art with a cozy vibe
• Environmental effects: snow, ice, wind, and heat
• Unique balloon-based traversal mechanics
• Peaceful exploration with no combat
• Original soundtrack (optional mention)

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🌥️ Backstory

[Name] has finally completed building their hot air balloon, ready to explore the unknown skies. But something’s off — the balloon keeps getting stuck on strange obstacles in the clouds. As it rises, [Name] must exit the basket, traverse bizarre floating worlds, and discover why the sky seems... alive.

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🔧 Controls

← → or A/D: Move
Space: Jump
E / Enter: Interact

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🛠️ Dev Notes

This is a work-in-progress prototype — all feedback is welcome!
Our stretch goal is to use fully original art assets and experiment with multiple art styles across levels.