Forget tense platforming, action combat, or intricate puzzles. The newly released Video Game Menu: The Game, available on Steam, places the humble video game menu at the center of its experience, offering a satirical take on player interaction. As its Steam page cheekily suggests, the game caters to those who might find traditional gameplay elements a "pointless distraction" and would rather "pleasantly click through menu after menu."
The gameplay loop entirely consists of navigating various menu screens and interacting with options. While some menus feature standard settings like graphics quality, v-sync, FPS targets, and brightness, others delve into more absurd territory. Players can experiment with options such as screen rotation, adjusting the game's perceived "bloat," or activating a "take off glasses" switch that presumably blurs the screen. One notable absurd option is "cursorphobic buttons," which causes buttons to flee from the cursor, making them difficult to select. Another is "airplane mode," which overlays a cockpit image across the entire screen.
This title is presented as a comedy game, reflecting on the function, or perhaps the dysfunction, of video game menus. Hidden within the menu simulator are glimpses of actual video games, which appear to serve as testing grounds for the chaotic combinations of options players can create. While not designed for extended play sessions, Video Game Menu: The Game offers a dose of levity for those seeking a unique and humorous gaming experience.