Trombone Champhas become a hit on social media and among Let’s Play or streamers, but arguably only because players aren’t meant to be good at it. Once it became a viral sensation,Trombone Champexplodedin popularityon Steam, and developer Holy Wow Studios shared its gratitude with the gaming community. Its viral status stems from the earliest posts that shared finicky trombone-controlling gameplay and comical, often surreal visuals.
Trombone Champisn’t alone; it is just the latest game in a growing genre that seems to revel in impossible gameplay. For example, developer Bossa Studios has a storied history withindie gameslikeSurgeon Simulator, I Am Bread, andI Am Fish,which all reflect the same absurd premises and finicky controls that made otherwise straightforward titles intensely entertaining. These can be mastered with enough time, patience, and luck, but for games likeTrombone Champ,this isn’t the point. It speaks to a different niche of players that traditional games can often overlook.
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Games like Trombone Champ Aren’t Meant To Be Serious
While most developers would set out to create an immersive experience complemented by characters and lore, there are games that don’t take themselves so seriously. Though this doesn’t always garner critical acclaim, games that embrace the silliness of their premise can be positively received. For instance, games likeOctodad: Dadliest Catchsucceed by making the absurdity a core part of its story and gameplay. Likewise,Trombone Champwas never meant to be taken seriously.
At face value, it’s clearTrombone Champwas going to be an odd game. From theMii-like avatarsto bizarre in-game visuals, it broadcasts absurdity. When the gameplay actually starts and players need to time their notes with nothing but a trombone, it quickly becomes apparent that the game shouldn’t be taken seriously at any level. By its very nature, it seems the game was designed to be shared online. Players who play poorly can invite others to share in the experience of a musical train wreck and collectively laugh withTrombone Champ.
Games Designed To Be Played Badly Are Fun
Ultimately, this is the underpinning ethos of games designed to be played poorly. Often seen instrange simulation titles likeSurgeon SimulatororI Am Bread, the absurdity and complicated, ineffective controls create spectacle. While these games can be enjoyed solo, it is more entertaining to share. This is evident when considering the firstSurgeon Simulatordidn’t offer any multiplayer, but its sequelSurgeon Simulator 2fixed that. For a game about complex surgery in strange scenarios, the phrase “too many cooks spoil the broth” clearly applies.
Trombone Champworks on the same principle. On its own,Trombone Champcan be a fun experience, but it offers more if shared with others. By taking the natural pitfalls ofrhythm games and reworking their potential,Trombone Champinvites the player to try their best but celebrate failures. These games provide a win-win scenario, where even if players are bad they will have fun. WithTrombone Champ’sexponential success,it might even consider adding multiplayer to share the spectacle of novice trombone enthusiasts.
