The term “game” might not entirely fit; perhaps it could be better described as a foreign TV simulator. The premise is that, for reasons initially unexplained, you gain access to a TV network from another realm, known as Blippo Plus. The experience isn’t about “playing” in the traditional sense; instead, you flip through channels—featuring FMV shows starring human actors, spanning a range of genres from dramas to culinary shows—to delve into the alien society. This game serves as a colorful sequel to an unusual title from the Playdate’s second season.

As time progresses, you may observe links between the seemingly unrelated channels, with a peculiar event also tying you, the viewer, to the unfolding narrative. While interaction is minimal, mostly involving channel surfing, at several junctures, you’ll need to tweak the visual settings for clarity and check your messages to retrieve “data packets” that fill in the storyline and modify the channels. For instance, the first packet reveals the aliens’ awareness of being observed, prompting them to revise their broadcasts to include a new channel devoted to illustrating their culture in aspects like cuisine, style, and language.

The experience is distinctly odd, amplified by its economical, retrofuturistic aesthetic. Many of the channels are decidedly eccentric, such as one featuring psychic weather forecasts or another dedicated to the allure of vintage computer hardware. There’s a teen-oriented talk show titled Boredome and a channel simply named “video cola,” which entails close-up footage of fizzing beverages. These aren’t full-length episodes; each segment lasts a few minutes, replaying in loops to ensure a complete viewing experience. Revealing more would spoil the surprises, but it’s worth mentioning the nostalgic joy of channel surfing—a ritual diminished by the era of streaming.

What’s truly noteworthy about Blippo Plus is that, despite its quirks, it eventually starts to reveal a coherent narrative. Initially appearing as a jumbled assortment of unpalatable alien cuisine and budget-friendly Star Trek aesthetics, closer inspection unveils a pattern, allowing you to fit the puzzle pieces together and witness a grander plot come to life. If only a remote control was included.

_{Blippo Plus is available now on the Switch and Steam.}