The world of PC games has always blown my mind because there’s just SO MUCH stuff out there that it’s not uncommon at all for there to be a game that’s well-liked and well-reviewed, and seemingly quite popular with a solid fanbase, and have it be something I’ve just flat out never even heard of. Many of these games would likely remain unknown to me if they didn’t make their way to mobile eventually (though that’s becoming less true with the advent of the Steam Deck), and that would probably still be the case with Sling Ming from developer Good Night Brave Warrior, which launched on mobile this week.
Originally this one launched on PC and Nintendo Switch way back in 2018. Remember 2018? Doesn’t that feel like 9 lifetimes ago? Sling Ming seemed to be one of those low key indie hits when it released, and the plan was to also release it on iOS and Android alongside PC and Switch. That, uh, didn’t happen, and I honestly have no idea why it took nearly 5 years to finally make its way to iOS, but I can say for certain that Sling Ming feels like the kind of game that is most at home on the touchscreen, and feels like a throwback to a more innocent time in mobile gaming.
The premise is that you’re a princess trying to figure out why your kingdom is being plagued by earthquakes. A trip underground leads you to discover this strange outdated transit system that folks used to use back in the day which consisted of traveling by bungie cord between a series of nodes. Yeah, it’s a strange premise, but it works as a setup for the star of the show which is the gameplay. You’ll need to travel through each of the game’s levels node by node, swinging around and using your weight and the physics system to circumvent hazards, collect treasure, and solve puzzles. Cut the Rope meets Hook Champ, kind of.
Sling Ming is the sort of game you kind of need to see in action to understand, but it’s actually quite simple mechanically but very hard to master due to the physics system. You get a good chunk of game for free and then you can unlock the rest of it with a one-time IAP of $3.99. As I said, this reminds me of the kinds of games we’d get in the earlier years of mobile gaming. It’s got a pretty unique set of mechanics, a sort of “only two people made this" charm, plenty of well-designed levels to play through, and no free to play shenanigans. It also feels totally right on the touchscreen. If that sounds like a time you’d like to revisit again, don’t hesitate to give Sling Ming a shot.
