Leap Year (video game)

Leap Year
PublisherSokpop Collective
GenrePuzzle

Leap Year is a puzzle-platformer video game developed in 2024 by Daniel Linssen and published by Sokpop Collective. Creating using GameMaker Engine, Leap Year is playable on Windows. In the game, you collect the days of the month in February and use secret movement abilities to your advantage. It would later receive downloadable content on February 28, 2025 known as Leap Year March.

Gameplay

Leap Year is a puzzle-platformer video game where you collect the various days in the month of February.[1] The game revolves around having secret movement abilities which you have from the beginning that are slowly revealed through trial and error and clues carved into the background of the world.[2][3] The player character is highly fragile and will die having fallen from even heights that they jumped from, which requires the usage of things such as steps or ceilings to their advantage.[2]

Development

Leap Year was developed by Daniel Linssen and published by Sokpop Collective.[1] It was commissioned by Sokpop Collective as part of their takeover program, where they commission their favorite artists to make a game for their one game a month plan.[4] The game would later receive downloadable content in February 28, 2025 known as Leap Year March with the same gameplay and using skills previously acquired in Leap Year, just with the goal being to collect calendars for the month of March.[1]

Reception

GameSpark stated it was aligned with some of the puzzle games considered the best, such as Animal Well, Blue Prince, and Lorelei and the Laser Eyes.[1] Polygon stated "that the game trades approachability for simplicity" but that they were happy regardless due to its cleverness.[3] Gamekult described is as brilliant and innovative yet overlooked.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Kagami Toshin (May 6, 2025). "うるう年のカレンダーの日付を集める知識アンロック系パズル『Leap Year』&『Leap Year March』が傑作なので猛烈にオススメしたい". GameSpark (in Japanese). Retrieved February 28, 2026.
  2. ^ a b Ryo Sugiura (February 5, 2026). ""知識アンロック系"の名作パズルアクション「Leap Year」,Nintendo Switch版を本日発売。DLC「Leap Year: March」も同時リリース". 4Gamer.net (in Japanese). Retrieved February 28, 2026.
  3. ^ a b Grayson Morley (September 20, 2024). "Leap Year is a Metroidbrainia for people who hate Metroidbrainias". Polygon. Retrieved February 28, 2026.
  4. ^ Sokpop Collective (June 14, 2024). "Sokpop Takeover #3 - Leap Year". Patreon. Retrieved March 1, 2026.
  5. ^ Max Cagnard (June 14, 2024). "Leap Year : un platformer 2D aussi maladroit qu'innovant". Gamekult (in French). Retrieved February 28, 2026.