Yarn! A Jumping Physics Game

The Story Behind Yarn

After a can of toxic waste is dumped into a river, fish used to make cat food turns normally cute and cuddly cats into menacing decaying creatures—Cat Zombies! Now they are terrorizing the city and it's up to our hero, Doodle, a brave little ball of yarn, to save the day.

Yarn is a beautiful indie 2D atmospheric platformer with a cute little character superhero. Jump through this diverse, gorgeous galaxy world and explore Meow Town or the Scratchy Dungeons, but watch out for the monster zombie cats! This quirky jumper is a fury of fun!

Gameplay

Each level is being terrorized by a Cat Zombie that you have to knock out, along with a number of obstacles that you have to help Doodle avoid. Jump over spikes and saws, and pivot off the walls in order to scale up them. Collect all the stars and destroy the Cat Zombie as fast as you can. Best of luck, and remember—keep on the lookout for Cat Zombies!

Design & Development

The game went through several iterations before finding its final form. The initial concept explored different gameplay mechanics, but we eventually settled on a physics-based jumping system inspired by games like King of Thieves. This approach created a more dynamic and entertaining experience that players found addictive and engaging.

Visual Design

The game features hand-drawn 2D artwork with a charming, atmospheric style. Each world has its own unique visual identity, from the colorful Meow Town to the dark and mysterious Scratchy Dungeons. The character design of Doodle—a simple but expressive ball of yarn—became instantly recognizable and beloved by players.

Game Features

• 50+ Levels across multiple worlds
• Physics-based gameplay with wall-jumping mechanics
• Collectible stars in each level
• Multiple costumes for Doodle (including Halloween specials!)
• Game Center integration with leaderboards
• Optimized performance for older devices

The Journey

Yarn was developed as a passion project, combining creative storytelling with engaging gameplay mechanics. The game received positive feedback from players who appreciated its unique concept, charming visuals, and challenging but fair difficulty curve.

The game has been updated multiple times since its initial release, with new levels, costumes, and gameplay improvements. Version 2.0 brought significant updates including Game Center integration, 50x leaderboards, and memory optimizations that made the game compatible with older devices.

Play Yarn Today

Yarn is available on the App Store for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Experience the adventure of Doodle as he battles zombie cats across diverse worlds!

Download Yarn on the App Store

Reflections

Working on Yarn was an incredible learning experience in game design, character development, and creating engaging mobile gameplay. The game's simple but effective mechanics, combined with its charming visual style, created something special that players continue to enjoy.

Whether you're exploring Meow Town for the first time or revisiting the Scratchy Dungeons, Yarn offers a delightful platforming experience that's both challenging and fun. Keep jumping, Doodle!