By single button, it’s more like a d-pad and a button that does all the actions (Not really). My first idea is a racing game that plays like Mario Kart, but has the simple control feel like Mario Kart Tour. I have a test course drawn out on paper. But I’ll need to figure out the fundamentals of the 3d modeling before programming it. But what kind of game do you think would play with only a single button?
There are many games that use only a single input. Flappy Bird is the obvious one. If you also allow directional input, then everything from Doodle Jump to Galaga would also count. Indeed, I think with a d-pad plus a button, you could even make a fighting game (just using directional combos for all the fancy moves). And of course for some games, you don’t even need the button (Pac-Man, Q-Bert, etc.).
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Almost every game on the Atari 2600 had only one-button + directional controls because that’s all the included joystick had. This is probably because that’s all that most Arcade games had at the time (like Galaga, Centipede, etc.) I think those old games are worth checking out because that era was a “hot bed” of game design.
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Single button games are mostly these, where timing is critical. Need press button at right moment.
Adding extra directional inputs, increases dimension to the game experience, I.e pong, arcanoid, tetris.
Single button racing game, I think kirby air ride qualify, if you have direction, they only have “break” and it progress on its own, the catch is that break also store energy and double as a charging boost. Slot car qualify too, but that’s the model used in many mobile game since temple run, aka lane. I think there was a jet moto game that also move on its own and turn were handled by grabbing poles.
But since you copy mobile, imho the best interface has been wii balance games, having a 2 visual feedback of where the balance is, with area that have special effect and action, is imho the superior design everybody should have copy, you know using the same type of visual that calibrating sticks use, so you know exactly where you are and act on that feedback.
Even though Super Mario Bros 1-3 had two buttons, one of them was mostly used to make the player sprint. After more than a few plays through, you sprint by default anyway, so you mostly play with only the jump button.
Also sonic the hedgehog, purest platformer control ever, all button just jump, press multiple time and you have different action based on current state.
Yep I remember as a kid getting a bit frustrated with Mario and racing games, because you pretty much held down 1 of the buttons 99% of the game. Should have made them a toggle to give my thumb a break. Spending hours perfecting my “press a button at specific timing while holding another button with the same thumb” gave my little hands some cramps 