Escher

The exit is right in front of you. Getting there is another matter.

[Note: This game was created for the 1.44MB GameJam. The Jam was running for quite some time, but I learned about the Jam too late and had to implement everything within two days.]

Escher is a short first-person spatial puzzle set inside a maze that refuses to obey ordinary geometry.

Doorways return you to familiar places in unfamiliar orientations. Rooms loop back on themselves. Buttons unlock distant paths. To escape, you’ll need to explore carefully, look in every direction, and stop assuming that the shortest path is a straight line.

Features

• Handcrafted non-Euclidean environments
• Spatial puzzles built around loops, orientation, switches, and doors
• Responsive first-person movement and platforming
• A built-in timer for repeat runs and speedrunning
• Retro, low-resolution 3D graphics rendered entirely on the CPU using a custom rendering engine
• No combat, enemies, or inventory—just you and the architecture
• A compact experience designed to be completed in one sitting

The entire game—including its custom renderer, maps, textures, and assets—is packed into a single standalone executable:

• Linux: approximately 358 KiB
• Windows: approximately 521 KiB

That’s small enough to fit comfortably on a 1.44 MB floppy disk.

Estimated first playthrough: 10–20 minutes
Audio: None
Progress: Not saved between launches

Controls

Input	Action
WASD	Move
Mouse	Look
Space	Jump
E	Use/Interact
R	Respawn at the latest checkpoint
Shift + R	Restart the game
Escape	Quit

Installation

Windows

Download escher_windows.exe and just run it.

Linux

Download escher_linux and run it.

If necessary, grant executable permission first:

chmod +x escher_linux ./escher_linux