The 9 Days of SMOL are little bites of bigger game ideas, and the way Wonderful Elephant chooses to close out each year (starting now!). From the creator of all those little Flash games you played forever, these nine brand-new games are being released for this special collection!

These games are:

DO NOT Touch the Cake

Released December 7, 2024 for PC and MAC

A cake was presented
for the players to try
It didn't look quite right
Which made them ask, "why?"

"Why such a cake
with such corporate vibes?
What's happening here
Is this cake just a lie?"

Ten simple levels
ask the players to steer clear,
of the pretty pink cake
that brings death instead of cheer.

Author's Note: I don't know what brought me to make this game. I had a deep interest in teasing the player to select an object they knew they had no business selecting. I just let the game unravel into what it is today. I haven't made a game that attempts to grief players so vehemently in years, and what better way to start off this wonderful 9 day holiday season.

(Downloads are at the bottom of the entire list!)

A Perfect Fit

Released December 8, 2024 for PC and MAC

What if a box
was made for a square?
What if a box
fit perfectly in there?

How would we score
such a perfect display
of polygonal snugness
through these cold Winter days?

May your squares all fall
into the spaces within.
For another year ending,
and another to begin.

Author’s Note: I have a strange fascination with things that fit perfectly. We live in a measured world yet so many things fit together haphazardly. In exploring this concept, I started by simply giving the player one box and one container, the box fitting perfectly. This was really not fun on its own, so I explored different box sizes which worked much better. As a risk reward system I introduced a, “how close to the edge/perfect fit did you get” bonus, and that seemed to tie it all together. If you get a high enough score a new mode will appear!

A Date Worth Waiting For

Released December 11, 2024 for PC and Mac

What if a small game
was not played in small minutes,
But in days and months
Would you even begin it?

That is of course, unless
you had time travel powers
Instead of long weeks
you could be done in an hour

This little capybara
Has a really hot date
Maybe true love
Is made of both time and fate

Author’s Note: I’ve always wanted to make a game that relied greatly on the system clock. Years ago I started on an RPG that keyed off of system time for night/day effects, and ever since then I’ve wanted to go back to the Date object in Flash. I’m curious how players are going to play this one, as there’s not stopping anyone from cheesing the clock (in-fact, nothing discouraging it either). Will a player actually play in real-time is really my fascination. As of December 11, 2024, the game cannot be won naturally until 2026.

Flipside

Released December 11, 2024 for PC and MAC

What if the player
Has nowhere to hide
With falling white blocks
That comes from each side.

“Falling white blocks?
Is this Elephant Rave?”
“No,” replied John,
“It’s not quite the same.”

“See the blocks come from all sides
And the design is quite minimal.
You get smushed and you die.
Happy SMOL you filthy animal.

Author’s Note:

I really like these little score climb games. I’ve made quite a few of them over the years, even though I know they’re not everyone’s cuppa tea. That said, I really enjoy watching people play them more than my other types of games. People are just good at video games in a way that I am not, and I like to see what they are capable of. Screenshots warm my heart.

Batteries Not Included

Released December 13, 2024 for MAC/PC

The batteries must go
In the devices we found
That serve no good purpose
but to go to the next round

“A game about batteries?”
Y'all asked, “Are you positive?”
John grinned at his own poem,
“Pun intended- I make lots of them.”

“Finding joy in the things
We use every day
Is part of the joy
We feel on this SMOL day :)."

Author's Note:
I started on a game about Morse code called “Dot Dot Dash.” After more research and a bit of testing, I realized I was over my head (Morse code is surprisingly complex and I didn’t want to mess it up). Instead, I was inspired by a toy my daughter had left me to replace batteries on. It required a screwdriver and flipping different sized batteries into narrow slots. Like many puzzles in my life, it became a game.

Pizza For Elephants

Released December 17, 2024 for PC/MAC

What if your empire
Was pizza galore
Starting with a slice
Then served by the score

Would the elephants come
For the fresh ‘za you made
With their elephant-y dollars
and each slice fully paid

A quarter million slices
is all you’ll need to sell
For a pack of picky pachyderms
And their dizzying hunger spell

Author Notes: I got a little carried away on this one. I was inspired to try out some highly optimized pizza rendering. I basically wanted to put as many pizzas on the screen as possible. managed to get about 50,000 pizzas running on the screen at 60fps. I’m excited to see what else I can do with this code :)

YOU SHOULD Touch the Cake

Released December 20, 2024 for PC and MAC

What if the cake
Was back at it again
But this time came with
A very floppy friend

“The Flan is here!” they cried,
Their hearts full of cheer,
“But so is a demi demon!”
The crowd shrieked in fear!

“Foolish mortals!” he cried,
“You cannot touch the cake,
Hopefully we’re not making
a sequel of mistakes.”

Author's note: I have done very little voice acting in my games, and I've very proud of my demonic voice. I returned to the "Don't Touch the Cake" formula because it felt ripe with opportunity and silliness, and I love how old-school Flash it feels. I'm pretty happy with how this one turned out :3

Ball Revamped: The Year

Released December 23, 2024 for PC and MAC

Sudden momentum
Drifting through an atmosphere
Then velocity

Author's Note: It’s been over a decade since I attempted to make anything related to Ball Revamped, the game series that put me on the map in 2005. This execution was a modern attempt at my first game series, and overall it really energized my excitement for what it could be. 12 levels, but very thoughtfully designed.

Until We Meet Again

Released December 24, 2024 for PC and MAC

A final thank you
For a really great SMOL!
A letter is written
But the letters will fall!

If juggling’s your thing
You’re in for a treat
If juggling’s your bane
This won’t be as sweet.

Enjoy this small one
Among the eight standing tall
Wishing you the best
And a really sweet SMOL :)

Author’s Note: I’m really tired and it’s late on Christmas Eve. I had really wild ambitions for this one but sometimes simpler will do (as will sleep!). I hope you had a really great SMOL, thanks for coming along for the ride!

Starting December 6, 2024 and every few days following, a new game will be updated. If you're joining us late, then welcome, enjoy the games in order order you choose!

This game is currently exclusive to backers of A Time For Good Things. This project will be made available to a wider audience at a later time.