TumbleSeed
Roll a seed up the mountain on a tilting vine, one shared daily climb at a time.
Every day: A daily challenge: one level generated from a seed that is the same for every player that day, with one attempt and its own daily leaderboard. New puzzle: Once a day; the game does not state the time.
TumbleSeed on SteamTumbleSeed on PlayStation StoreTumbleSeed on itch.io (no daily in the DRM-free build)
TumbleSeed is a roguelike in which you balance a rolling seed on a vine and steer it up a mountain full of holes and creatures. The daily challenge gives everyone the same generated mountain for the day and one shot at its leaderboard.
About TumbleSeed
TumbleSeed came out in May 2017 from a small team published as aeiowu: Benedict Fritz, Greg Wohlwend, David Laskey, Jenna Blazevich and composer Joel Corelitz. It is based on Ice Cold Beer, a mechanical arcade game where you tilt a metal bar to roll a ball past holes. Here the bar is a vine stretched across the screen, and you raise and lower each end with the two sticks to move a small seed upward.
The mountain is generated anew for each run, through forest, jungle, desert and snow. Falling into a hole costs a heart and sends you back to your last flag; spikes or running out of hearts end the run. Along the way you collect crystals and plant them in marked plots to use seed powers, such as extra flags, extra hearts or thorns that hurt enemies, and at basecamps you can buy or pick new ones. There are more than 30 powers in all.
In the daily challenge every player gets the same seed, so the mountain, its holes and enemies are identical for everyone that day. You get a single attempt, and the result goes on that day's leaderboard; if the run ends early, that is your score for the day. A later update added a weekly challenge, training levels and benefits that carry over between runs.
The daily and online leaderboards are in the Steam version; the DRM-free itch.io build does not have them. TumbleSeed suits patient players who like precise control and do not mind starting over.
How to play TumbleSeed
- Buy TumbleSeed on Steam and start the daily challenge from the main menu.
- Tilt the vine with the two sticks (or the keys) to roll the seed up the screen.
- Steer around holes and enemies, and plant crystals in plots to use your seed powers.
- Climb as far and as fast as you can on your one attempt.
- Check where you placed on the day's leaderboard, then come back the next day for a new mountain.
Screenshots
Tips
- Plant a Flagseed before a hard stretch so a fall does not send you far back.
- Practise in the normal adventure mode or the training levels before spending your single daily attempt.
- Small, slow movements of the vine are easier to control than big swings.
Questions
Is the daily challenge the same for everyone?
Yes. All players get the same seed, so the day's mountain is generated identically for everyone.
How many tries do I get at the daily?
One. If the run ends early, that is your score for the day.
Does the itch.io version have the daily challenge?
No. The DRM-free build has no online leaderboards or daily challenge; the included Steam key does.
What platforms is TumbleSeed on?
Windows and macOS on Steam, PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch.
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