Hey guys,

I am thinking about this for weeks now. It's surprisingly hard and I am pretty desperate now. I am looking for a name for a platformer game. It is very simplistic and doesn't really have that kind of personality that makes it rather easy to find a proper name, like Cuphead or Shovel Knight simply describe the main character. My main character is a cube.

Well, since we have the best gamer community on the internet here, I thought I'll just ask you and hope that someone comes up with a nice idea. :)

The name should have at least some relation to the main properties of the game, which I will list here:

  • It is a super-hard platformer
  • It's probably almost impossible to beat a level on the first try (get the hint? ^^)
  • Main character is a cube
  • It has a lot of spikes in it
  • It requires precision and fast reaction
  • It has 2D and 3D elements
  • It changes dimensions inbetween (several 2D and 3D perspectives)

That's about it. Not a lot to work with. I have a list of rather generic ideas. I don't like any of them that much, really. So, I am hoping for your help.

So, please tell me: what would be a good name for such a game? I am thankful for every suggestion. If anyone here comes up with the name I'll use in the end, he of course gets a few copies of the game as soon as that's possible (meaning when the store page is set up).I will add him/her and make a note for that.

And if you came here and have no idea whatsoever, just like me, then at least you didn't come for nothing. So please have a bundled and a non-bundled giveaway:

Giveaway (level 1)
Giveaway (level 2)


Steam page is up now. I like this name the most so far, but I am still open to suggestions. Every wishlist is highly appreciated (as this seems to be the most important thing nowadays). To celebrate this I made a few more giveaways:

Level 1
Level 2
Level 3

Good luck! :)

4 years ago*

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How about adding something that gives the game the pesonality which it seems to be lacking right now and then name it after that?

Dunno, something like zebra stripes to the cube, or.... let me think about it while having some breakfast.

4 years ago
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Yeah, maybe. Not sure what that could be exactly. But it is worth considering.

4 years ago
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"Doomed Cube" ^^

edit: or go bananas like : "Johnny Thundercube and the Temple of lightning reflexes PartIV: The Jumpening"

4 years ago*
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Hm, I was hoping to avoid a long title. Something short and catchy maybe. But I am open to all suggestions. Your's is actually pretty funny. ^^

4 years ago
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Cuphead and Shovel Knights are games that named after their character designs. Hollow Knight for example is a like a class of Hollow souls/ghosts? Not too sure.

Usually a backstory would be great to name a game. Since you main is a cube. Its probably "Cube-something". Im not sure if you want to reveal your backstory or a screenshot of your game but those 2 are good materials and give others a good hint for names. May I also suggest if there are names you gathered after this post you can have a poll for popular votes.

I cant think of any now since Im not a big platformer fan. One game that I had came across that sticks to mind with cube is Cubetractor.

Stay Cubish and be Cubetastic!!! ^^

4 years ago
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Yeah, I have a few ideas for a rough pseudo-story. But nothing spectacular. The best idea I have is actually something I would prefer not to share, since that would also lead to something that happens as a surprise in the end and changes all levels in a specific way. Hard to even describe it without giving it away. ^^

I actually have Cubetastic in my list of possible names, lol. Is it such an obvious one? xD

EDIT: Not true, I had Spiketastic. Not Cubetastic. ^^

4 years ago*
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Well, I love them puns. They just came to mind. XD
If possible share a pic of your character design you would on Steam. Like close to end game gears or a scene that is interesting. :3

4 years ago
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May I also suggest if there are names you gathered after this post you can have a poll for popular votes.

That is an excellent idea, by the way. I will probably do that.

4 years ago
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Copy of The Impossible Game? So, "Another Impossible Game"? lmao

4 years ago
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I am hoping it will end up being inspired by The Imposssible Game (and bring something new to the table) and not considered a copy. xD

I had a few ideas directly deriving from that game, The Barely Possible Game. But I am not sure if that's the right approach.

4 years ago
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It's not the approach if you want a unique idea, it's the right approach if you want to attract people who have heard of and liked The Impossible Game (and whatever the more popular game based on that was called). This way people will know from the title what it is, but it's really not original.

4 years ago*
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Yeah, I absolutely agree.

4 years ago
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4 years ago
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"Difficube"
"Cubic Pain"
"Square Dance"
"Quadrilateral Pain"

4 years ago
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Difficube is cutest 😁

4 years ago
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Yeah, Difficube is actually not that bad. ^^

4 years ago
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Difficube gets my vote.

4 years ago
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+1 for DiffiCube

4 years ago
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Cube+ platformer -> "Cubeformer"
Multiple perspectives -> "Point of Cube" (sounds similar to point of view when spoken aloud - at least to me). Could be even more relevant, if you have more than less of your game including perspective shifts.
Also: "Coob Eternal" :p Only if you have no shame though.

4 years ago
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Dead here on an actual name, but ... If I think of something I'll return.

4 years ago
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Honestly, name doesn't matter much. It's best that it doesn't come up on Google for anything else, so searching for it would be easy, and that it's somewhat easy to remember.

If you want a suggestion anyway, Masocube or Masocubism.

4 years ago
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thats kinky. *blush

4 years ago
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I think because it needs to be easy to remember and catchy it is quite important. Your suggestions aren't bad. Didn't think of masochism, but it fits quite well.

4 years ago
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I don't think that the name needs to be catchy, and it's not that hard to remember stuff that's not overly complicated. It can be nonsense words like Xoriarc or Vilibia or something simplistic like 'That Cube Game' or 'Cube and Spikes" or whatever. I don't think that many games succeed or fall on the basis of having clever names. You've got pretty successful games with bad names, including Shovel Knight, Player Unknown's Battlegrounds and quite a few others.

Really, the game will live or die on its gameplay, not its name. I do totally understand the desire to find a good name. As a writer / game designer -- though not someone who actually published and game and hardly any story -- I've certainly created complete concepts around a name. But I've seen companies rebrand, etc., and sometimes the names are really stupid or meaningless, but the companies still live on, because it's not really what matters.

All you need is for the name to be unique (so it's not easily confused with something else) and reasonably simple to remember.

4 years ago
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Sure, you're right that the game itself is way more important than the name. I still believe a good name can have a real impact on the success of a game. It might not turn a bad game into a success, and a bad name might not completely destroy a good game. But I believe it can make a difference. Then again, I am not really aiming for success. I am realist enough to know that this game will not sell many copies. And it doesn't have to. It's a passion project. Something I wanted to do for a long time. If 20 people buy the game and 11 like it - I am already happy. So, I guess my search for a good game is less about it being important per se, and more about me simply wanting it to have a cool name. ;)

4 years ago
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Anyway, a few other ideas:

Spikes in Difficulty
Super Hard - That's What She Said Edition
Cubed Precision
The Many Deaths of a Cube

4 years ago
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I don't know why, but I kind of like Super Hard. It's so obviously based on SuperHot. But kind of cool nonetheless. ^^

4 years ago
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A variation of ET3D's first suggestion could be "Difficulty Spikes".

It's not quite as catchy as I'd like it to be, but it's a common term used in describing gameplay, and it takes the focus away from a possibly unremarkable/unmemorable character... the cube. :)

4 years ago
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Or a slight variation: "Difficult Spikes".

4 years ago
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Main character is a cube

I hope you are not going to publish it anywhere.

4 years ago
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Why not? Because you expect shoveware with that description? ^^ Understandable, but I like to think I offer more than your typical Steam asset flip / shovelware, despite having simplistic geometry. Impossible Game and Geometry Dash also have a cube as the character.

4 years ago
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Thomas Was Alone has plain rectangles for characters, and it's excellent. I'm totally with you.

4 years ago
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I actually thought about that game some weeks ago. Definitely need to replay it. The narrator is fantastic.

4 years ago
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Impossible Game and Geometry Dash also have a cube as the character.

Needless to say that I consider both shovelware.

4 years ago
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I'm sure that KillingArts would be ecstatic to get sales like these games had, even if that means being branded as shovelware by you.

4 years ago
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Sad but true.

4 years ago
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Really? Both are like big, big indie hits. Geometry Dash sold millions of copies (IG probably did as well across platforms), it pretty polished overall, has an excellent user score and a strong fanbase (over 5000 concurrent players right now). I started playing Impossible Game when it came out on iOS (2012 I believe) and still play it to this day. In fact, I played through all levels again just a month ago. You may dislike those games, sure. But shovelware? Isn't that a bit harsh? ^^

4 years ago
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Isn't that a bit harsh? ^^

May be, but it's still my opinion. In defense of those games I may say that I don't remember those being given away for free massively, so they are less shovelware than others.

4 years ago
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Sure, you can have your opinion and I have mine. That's fine. I was just surprised, since I absolutely don't see those games anywhere near shovelware, and I have never heard anyone say it. To be honest, I still don't understand what makes them shovelware in your mind. Is it just the simplistic artstyle?

4 years ago
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It's not a simplistic artstyle, it's lack of it. it's okay for tetris or minesweeper to not have any art (and even then, now when there is a TON of implementations of both you need some to be competitive). But platformer? They need to catch eye, otherwise it's shovelware. I took a look at both games you mentioned, geometry dash and the impossible game. Geometry Dash actually has simplistic artstyle, and it's "main character" is not a cube, it's changes all the time, and while it's made of geometry figures, it's rather complex. It's still totally not my cup of tea, but at least I can understand why it could look appealing to someone. Maybe I jumped to assumptions too fast, and it's a decent game (but I still won't buy something like that... maybe if it was a free game on mobile I could give it a try as a time-killer. And even as a time killer it won't last long, since it's too hard for that probably). But when I look at impossible game... it's just " Geometry Dash Wannabee", someone trying to get some market share by being similar to something popular (you said Geometry Dash is popular, right?). I can't see why someone would play it when there is GD; I can't see why someone would play it after GD - it looks so much inferior that it should be very disappointing. And now about your game; I haven't seen it, tell me, what is it's advantages comparing to GD and Impossible game? Why people will chose your product? Maybe if you could answer it - you will also have inspiration oh how to name your game, giving a hint on why this game different is a good way.

4 years ago
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But when I look at impossible game... it's just " Geometry Dash Wannabee", someone trying to get some market share by being similar to something popular

It was actually the other way around. Don't look at the Steam release dates. Impossible Game came out in 2009 on XBox and was quite the indie hit back then. It was ported to iOS in 2011 (which is when I started playing it). Geometry Dash came after that. It was inspired by IG. Many people think GD was first and IG is the copy, but it was definitely the other way around.

(you said Geometry Dash is popular, right?)

I would say so, with 1-2 million copies sold (just on Steam, who knows how many more on iOS/Android) and 5000 concurrent players so many years after release. Yeah, definitely.

I can't see why someone would play it after GD - it looks so much inferior that it should be very disappointing.

Understandable. It looks better, it's frankly programmed better. It has more levels. It has user-created content. It's so much better on paper. Yet, I never liked it as much. No GD level felt as good to me as any of the IG levels. Hard to explain, but the IG levels have kind of a personality that GD just doesn't have for me. But I get why many people prefer it.

And now about your game; I haven't seen it, tell me, what is it's advantages comparing to GD and Impossible game? Why people will chose your product? Maybe if you could answer it - you will also have inspiration oh how to name your game, giving a hint on why this game different is a good way.

Well, my idea is using many different perspectives, 2D and 3D ones, and shifting between them during the level. Maybe even getting faster and faster as the level progresses. I also thought about bringing that into the name. Something with dimension shift or so. I think many people here concentrate too much on using the words spike or cube (even though there are a few nice ones there).

Now, I'm not saying my game will be better than IG or GD. But I am more or less confident that I will be able to make something that is of decent quality, and that fans of IG/GD will enjoy. Why should people choose my game over IG/GD? They shouldn't. But if they enjoy that type of game, they might enjoy my game, as it brings a new idea to the table and offers new content for people who - like me - have beat the IG levels like 100 times now. ;)

4 years ago
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I think many people here concentrate too much on using the words spike or cube

That's actually terrible idea. Too many shovelware games with "cube" in name, even if we are not taking my point of view on shovelware, it's bad for a game to sound similar. "Dimension shift" at least has some individuality in it.

4 years ago
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Mark the sides of the cube like Dice, and call it Roll The Die.
Cause y'know.. Word play, Die being singular of Dice, plus a lot of deaths ect. And your main protagonist now has some character.

4 years ago*
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I'm not KillingArts, but I like your pun title.
+1

4 years ago
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Ooh I like that or you could call it the Six Sides of Death cause you know a traditional dice has six sides...

4 years ago
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+1 for turning the cube into a die. That definitely gives the cube instant recognition.

What about a play on "Roll The Die"? Like add an extra "n" after "The", written in blood or something.

Roll Then Die

4 years ago
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+1000000 for this. When I read "Roll The Die", I also thought of turning it into "then" too, but you went a step beyond with the "n" in blood. It's a very smart touch that increases personality by a very large margin.

4 years ago
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That's relatively clever. But it sounds strange to me. Not convinced, but I'll consider it. ^^

4 years ago
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View attached image.
4 years ago
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Cubehead...

4 years ago
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xD

4 years ago
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How about making the cube's name "E" so you can name the game as "Cub-E"

4 years ago
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4 years ago
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Ninja Cube

4 years ago
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Taking into account the main character, and having lots of spikes...

Cube's Edge. Or or second thought, just Edge. More lean, and conveys difficulty (as in "walking on the edge")

EDIT: Wait, no, scratch that. I just went to search if there were any other games with such a name as Edge... there is, and it is exactly a game about cubes ^^'

4 years ago*
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Yeah, I know Edge. ^^ Good game. The idea was good. You're just a few years to late. ;)

4 years ago
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Cubist

4 years ago
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A fast paced game with spikes that demands precision. From the description it sounds like the player will have to go through a lot of failed attempts and potentially frustration before he finally makes it.
How about: Cube Your Enthusiasm

4 years ago
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What about: Cubicide or Cubeiside

Cube cause that's what it is.
Suicide cause it will die a lot.
Also this name was not taken yet on the Steam store.

Edit: Was thinking you could set difficulty levels: Cubisidal (Normal) Cubisidal Maniac (Hard)
Or even a sequel: Cubiside - Re-incubenation or Cubiside - The Cubinator

4 years ago*
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"Super Cube Boy" :P

"I Have No Feet And I Must Jump" xD

4 years ago
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+1 for "I Have No Feet And I Must Jump" ^^

4 years ago
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second one sounds awesome

3 years ago
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Sakura hardcore platformer ;)

4 years ago
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4 years ago
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Cube Hell / Hellcube
Cube Trials
Johny" Cube and the Trials of Hell" ( " = replace with another name/word)
Cubegeddon / Spikegeddon

I'm not really sure do those names sound cool or cringe, but any game that ends with "geddon" would get my attention xD

4 years ago
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Maybe add some elements to the character, if he's just a cube put some glasses that looks like stars and call him Starcube. Just an example, it could be something else.

ImpossiCube, since you're going for a die & retry difficulty.

CubeXcellence, same idea as above, it requires perfect run to complete and a lot of deaths to learn.

IncrediCube xD

I tried to find something related to the 2D/3D switch but so far i couldn't find something catchy. This aspect sound interesting btw, how does it works ? The world switch from one another during the same level ?

4 years ago*
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Difficulty Cubed

4 years ago
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