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Blackbar is a text game set in a dystopian future of surveillance and censorship. Censorship is frustrating, but the human spirit can beat that frustration by turning it…into a game. You’ll pick up Blackbar instantly, but its challenges will keep you trying, searching, and thinking for days.

Blackbar was written and designed by Neven Mrgan (@mrgan), and engineered by James Moore (@foozmeat) in Portland, OR.

Blackbar is available for iOS from the App Store. It was originally written in English, and it includes a German translation as well. For interviews and promo codes, email [email protected].

 

IMAGES

Blackbar large promotional image Blackbar icon, large Blackbar icon, transparent, large Blackbar screenshot 1 Blackbar screenshot 2 Blackbar screenshot 3

Download image pack (ZIP)

 

COVERAGE

"Blackbar is a brilliant game." —Ron Gilbert

"Its allegories are smart, and its approach to story-telling on touch-devices is just as well. 4.5/5" —TouchArcade

"Wonderfully written and does a fantastic job of pulling you into a not entirely unrealistic tale." —Gizmodo

"Its unique puzzling mechanic and memorable plot would make it a must-play game in any year." -Top 10 iPhone and iPad games of 2013, Pocket Gamer

"The most thought-provoking iOS game of 2013 by some distance." -50 best iPhone and iPad games of 2013, The Guardian

"Taut and intelligent. 8/10" —Eurogamer

"The humor is black, the puzzles go from simple to truly challenging, and the story is top-notch." —Gamemoir

"Playing Blackbar is Like High School English Class, And I Love It." —Kotaku

"Blackbar tells a satisfying dystopian short story, one that invites you to engage directly with its censorship theme. 7/10" —EDGE

"Blackbar is the perfect type of mobile game. A must-have in my book." —148Apps

"An ingenious puzzle game that critiques censorship" —Fast Company

"An iOS puzzler and a commentary on the NSA's love of redacted text." —The Verge

"I find myself (…) waxing rhapsodic about the game to whoever will listen." The Best Damn iOS Games Of 2013, -Cult of Mac

INTERVIEWS

Animal: Game Plan: Making 'Blackbar,' The Dystopian Interactive Inbox

PocketGamer: Filling In the Blanks: The Making of Blackbar

Wired: A Creepy iPhone Game Inspired by the NSA’s Snooping

 

Thanks for reading… and writing!