Volvox

Volvox is a puzzle game about Trimoebas, unicellular animals that roll through the primordial soup and dream of building the first multicellular creatures. Using their triangular bodies and seven special abilities, you help them dig tunnels, build towers and construct bridges.

Rolling puzzles

The puzzles are based on the physical phenomenon of rolling without slipping: the distance a Trimoeba travels is linked to its rotation. Trimoebas and level surfaces influence each other, creating challenges that require you to think about how the triangles turn and move. The difficulty rises quickly, but the game does not rely on fast reactions or specialized experience. Its puzzles encourage you to find new uses for the resources available rather than rely on familiar ways of thinking.

The game contains 250 hand-drawn levels and offers about 60 hours of play, not counting achievements and stats. Completing it for the first time unlocks an advanced mode that tests your skills in a different way.

Art and sound

Triangles, eyes and curls recur in the characters, controls and backgrounds, giving the game an organic visual style. The watercolor artwork alludes to cellular diffusion. After your first completion, you can also choose from 16 background variants, which change how the game looks while you play the advanced mode.

The music and sound effects make extensive use of the hang, a recently invented instrument. Themes of birth and reproduction run through the main campaign, which celebrates life in its many forms, including the simplest worm.