A Pokémon fan has created a fun new Game Corner game, a version of Minesweeper featuring Voltorb. Creative Pokémon players have made many fan games over the years, ranging from minigames to entire journeys across unofficial regions.

The Game Corner was a mainstay of the Pokémon games for many years, originating in generation 1. Here, the Celadon Game Corner was secretly a front for Team Rocket, being built over a secret base that players needed to infiltrate in order to progress the game. Beyond that, the Game Corner's slot machines were also a lucky player's ticket to some exclusive prizes, including several TMs and even Pokémon. Most notably, spending time in the Game Corner was the only way players could acquire a Porygon outside of trading. Although it returned in subsequent generations with a variety of minigames, the Game Corner was cut from Pokémon BDSP and other recent games, likely as a result of changes in game rating standards.

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However, this hasn't deterred fans from loving the Game Corner and its nostalgic atmosphere, nor from expanding upon it themselves. Reddit user MattOnyx, also known as Noël Onyx, has recently released a brand-new minigame inspired by the Game Corner. Voltorb Sweeper is, as the name suggests, a version of the classic computer game Minesweeper which features Voltorb in place of the usual mines. In a pixelated style clearly based on Pokémon Red and Blue's aesthetic, players must decipher numerical clues to locate and avoid sleeping Voltorb whilst clearing the rest of the field. If they find and wake a Voltorb, the Pokémon immediately blows up in its characteristic manner.

Fan's Classic Voltorb Game Recaptures Pokémon Red & Blue's Style

Voltorb Sweeper

Despite its retro appearance, Voltorb Sweeper does include some more modern conveniences. Playable for free online via Itch.io, Voltorb Sweeper gives players access to six different color palettes to choose from. These range from the classic Game Boy screen green to a bright and cheerful yellow. This makes it much more accessible to any color-blind fans who may otherwise struggle to play the game. The game also includes three difficulty settings, ranging from Easy to Hard; Easy mode affords a player infinite time, while Hard mode must be beaten in just 50 seconds, and the number of Voltorb increases accordingly as well. This unofficial Pokémon fan game may be simple, but it is clearly very well-made.

Voltorb Sweeper is a perfect dose of nostalgia fuel for any longtime Pokémon fan, and plenty of fun as well. It provides old and new fans alike with an easily-accessible taste of the Game Corner, and it could easily become addictive with its simple gameplay and short runtime. Noël Onyx's skill as a game designer also shines through here, as they have created a version of Minesweeper that perfectly matches the Celadon Game Corner's aesthetic. No doubt many fans will be interested to see if they will produce similar games in the future. Voltorb Sweeper has joined other entertaining fan projects like the Inscryption-like deckbuilding game Pocket Crystal League in entertaining fans until the next Pokémon games are released.

Source: MattOnyx/Reddit