Figure A-1: The game's logo.


Figure A-2: A button. Click it to install MINDWAVE's free demo on Steam. (You must have Windows, a Steam account, and the Steam app installed to play.)

MINDWAVE is an upcoming indie game currently under development by HoloHammer. Inspired by the WarioWare series (marking the release of yet another indie game with pixel art inspired by something wario-related where the player climbs a tower), you play as a 16-year old girl who enters a slightly evil corporation's video game competition (not exactly because she likes the company, but because money). The game's shtick is that the microgames are pulled from the thoughts of the characters you encounter (it's not gruesome though, it's actually really fun.)


Figure B-1: An in-between sequence in Starlight, the game's first Mind, with tons of pop-ups the player needs to dismiss.

The game launched on Kickstarter in January 2025, met its funding goal of $40,000 within 31 hours, and met all of its stretch goals in two weeks! At the time of the campaign's conclusion in February, a total of 15,247 backers (I was one of them!) pledged $443,442.

According to Kickstarter, the game's estimated delivery date is September 2027, but the devs have clarified this is only an estimate and it may be released earlier or later depending on how quickly development goes. In the meantime, a free demo has been released on Steam featuring the tutorial and first Mind of the game, which you can download by clicking the giant button above. If you like WarioWare then give the demo a try, it's fairly short and if you don't like it, you're paying nothing.


Figure B-2: One of the dialogue sequences. Unlike some games, this game's dialogue is actually worth reading instead of skipping through.

Anyway, enough context, here's where you can talk about MINDWAVE, while we wait two entire years for it to come out. You can discuss the gameplay, characters, share art… anything about MINDWAVE, really, as long as it follows the rules listed below.


Figure B-3: A microgame where the player has to use their mouse buttons to set a clock.

the rules
1.) Like the rest of this site, follow the Community Guidelines. Please also respect the Reading and Playing forum guidelines.

2.) Discussions here can, and will, contain spoilers (not that there's much to spoil right now, since there's only a 20-minute demo, but I digress.) Read this topic at your own risk.

3.) Don't talk about inappropriate content included in or related to this game. MINDWAVE is not currently rated - I'd recommend it for ages 13 and up due to some language and violence.

4.) Stay on topic - this is for discussing MINDWAVE, not for sharing waffle recipes!

5.) Do not share links to MINDWAVE's Kickstarter campaign. While it's great that you want to spread awareness of the game, the Community Guidelines simply don't allow it.

6.) Obligatory “have fun! :‌)” rule

Figure B-4: A microgame where the player uses their keyboard and mouse to strum a guitar.

the frequently asked questions
Q.) How many levels are there in the demo?
A.) Just two - the tutorial and Starlight.

Q.) When is this coming out?
A.) The estimated release date says September 2027, but according to the developers this is very much subject to change due to how crazy game development tends to be.

Q.) What's this supported on?
A.) Once it's out, Windows, via Steam and Itch. The demo is currently only available through Steam.

Q.) How many Minds are going to be in the full game?
A.) The grand total is 7 minds, one bonus mind, and in the planned Smalls B-Side DLC, 7 Minds, for a total of 15 (not including the tutorial).

Q.) Why does this post read like a press release? You don't even work on the game.
A.) hyperfixations

Q.) ABBIE IS THE BEST CHARACTER EVER I LOVE HER SO MUCH SHE'S MY NEW COMFORT CHARACTER SHE'S SO POSITIVE I LOVE HER SONG I LOVE THIS GAME SO MUCH WHY DO I LOVE THIS GAME SO MUCH WHY AM I TYPING IN ALL CAPS ASDFLKMNDSNFMLAKFEWONLKSFFDLS
A.) You're typing in all caps because that's what this game does to people, apparently. Someone on the Kickstarter page's comments described it best: “This game is like if you fed a newborn baby 7 bottles of Dr. Pepper.” I'd be inclined to agree… If you also fed the baby the contents of the last three minutes of every Regular Show episode.

Q.) Is this a video game?
A.) …is this question really that frequently asked?

Q.) Is this a fandom I should join, or are you guys weird…?
A.) It hasn't been infected with a toxic community or unfunny brainrot yet. Get in while you still can.

Q.) Is Nintendo going to take the game down because HoloHammer stole their game concept?
A.) Does the phrase “spiritual successor” mean nothing to you?

Q.) What engine does this game use?
A.) GameMaker.
If you're old and need further clarification, it's the one that used to be called GameMaker Studio 2. It's not GameMaker Studio 1.4, which… yikes, do people even still use GameMaker Studio 1.4? That thing is a DINOSAUR by today's standards.

Q.) Why do you write such lengthy FAQ sections for questions most people aren't even going to ask?
A.) I just like writing FAQs, idk why.

Q.) Alright, you can quit with the acting, I know a horror game when I see one.
A.) Thankfully, it's not one. At least as far as we know

Figure B-5: A microgame from the Starlight Mind where the player uses their keyboard to… Actually, I think this one speaks for itself.

Mozboz wrote:

#4
That's a really cool concept. I should keep an eye on this game

SDLT010 wrote:

#5
Abbie is my favorite character.

minikiwigeek2 wrote:

It's a cool concept that's executed very well, thankfully. Do check out the demo if you want to try it out for yourself, it's completely free (you just need a Steam account) and I highly recommend it.

SDLT010 wrote:

#8
I only have a Chromebook lol

Rachel-rat wrote:

#11
ME WHEN I MINDWAVE

minikiwigeek2 wrote:

For some reason I woke up today and immediately decided I needed to make a MINDWAVE trashpost video, which conflicted with my other plan to animate one of Abbie's victory animations in Flipnote Studio (idk, i thought it'd be easy enough and could work well as a flipnote.)

I'll fire up my video editor later today and see what I can concoct. I've got a particular meme format in mind for this one, though whether it's going to actually work (and/or whether YouTube's algorithm will find it funny) is another question.

And then I'll… fire up my 3DS, which is still hanging on by a thread six whole years later, I guess.

really gotta replace that thing's touch screen, it's scratched beyond belief…

Kiwi

minikiwigeek2 wrote:

Here's a gif of Pandora I'm currently using as my pfp. Someone else can feel free to use it if they want:



Kiwi

Rachel-rat wrote:

minikiwigeek2 wrote:

Here's a gif of Pandora I'm currently using as my pfp. Someone else can feel free to use it if they want:



Kiwi

Imma steal AHAHAHAH

SDLT010 wrote:

I made this drawing a while ago about 5 minutes after I first hear about Mindwave: https://scratch-mit-edu.ezproxyberklee.flo.org/projects/1122330420/