Oh That's Why

Developer: zilakkio

Dec 31, 2025

Visual

side scroll

Structure

ability gated
exploration
interconnected map
item gated
non linear

Themes

time bending

Sub-Genre

Metroidbrainia
Micro / Mini
puzzle heavy

Summary

Oh That’s Why is a short 2D metroidbrainia adventure game about exploring the mystery of a cave in looped spacetime.
Light the candles, look for hidden paths, and maybe you'll find the cause of this strange loop! Or is there a cause at all? Graphics and code were created by two people, but the music was collected from the vast expanse of the internet.

Last updated August 08, 2026

Where to play

- Windows
- itch.io

Resources

Links

IGDB

Leap Year

Developer: Daniel Linssen

Publisher: Daniel Linssen, Sokpop Collective

2024

97%

Overwhelmingly Positive

3,148 reviews

MV Temperature
- Similarities
- exploration
- interconnected map
- item gated
- non linear
- side scroll
- Metroidbrainia
- Micro / Mini
- puzzle heavy
- Differences
- Has DLC
- hand drawn
- no combat
Monomoon

Developer / Publisher: Gentle Giant

Q3 2026

MV Temperature
- Similarities
- exploration
- interconnected map
- non linear
- side scroll
- Metroidbrainia
- Micro / Mini
- puzzle heavy
- Differences
- no combat
- fantasy
Sylvie Miniature

Developer: Sylvie

2024

MV Temperature
- Similarities
- exploration
- non linear
- side scroll
- Metroidbrainia
- Micro / Mini
- puzzle heavy
- Differences
- pixel
- no map
The Tangled Tapestry

Developer: Clemicle, Julie Besançon

2025

MV Temperature
- Similarities
- Game Jam Entry
- exploration
- interconnected map
- non linear
- side scroll
- Metroidbrainia
- Micro / Mini
- puzzle heavy
- Differences
- hand drawn
- Metroidvania Lite
Nonolith

Developer / Publisher: JUSTCAMH

Q4 2026

MV Temperature
- Similarities
- ability gated
- exploration
- interconnected map
- item gated
- non linear
- side scroll
- Metroidbrainia
- puzzle heavy
- Differences
- Demo Available
- no combat
Timebound

Developer: Fabien Calabria, Michal Kluz, Patrycja Sagan

Publisher: Michal Kluz

To be announced

MV Temperature
- Similarities
- exploration
- interconnected map
- item gated
- non linear
- time bending
- Metroidbrainia
- puzzle heavy
- Differences
- Demo Available
- no combat
- fantasy
- top down
Polly's Puzzle Box

Developer / Publisher: Box Penguin Games

Q1 2027

MV Temperature
- Similarities
- interconnected map
- item gated
- non linear
- side scroll
- Metroidbrainia
- puzzle heavy
- Differences
- Demo Available
- hand drawn
Vision Soft Reset

Developer: Seafloor Games

Publisher: Seafloor Games, Top Hat Studios

2019

90%

Very Positive

163 reviews

MV Temperature
- Similarities
- ability gated
- exploration
- interconnected map
- item gated
- non linear
- side scroll
- time bending
- Metroidbrainia
- puzzle heavy
- Differences
- action
- Ranged Combat
- timer
- Sci-Fi
Dark Labyrinth

Developer / Publisher: Xiaote

MV Temperature
- Similarities
- interconnected map
- non linear
- side scroll
- Metroidbrainia
- puzzle heavy
- Differences
- Demo Available
PITH

Developer / Publisher: ItllBeFunTheySaid

Q4 2026

MV Temperature
- Similarities
- ability gated
- interconnected map
- item gated
- non linear
- Metroidbrainia
- puzzle heavy
- Differences
- Demo Available
- pixel
- no combat
- 3D
Hirai Nya

Developer / Publisher: FirePillar2

2025

97%

Positive

30 reviews

MV Temperature
- Similarities
- ability gated
- exploration
- interconnected map
- non linear
- side scroll
- Metroidbrainia
- Micro / Mini
- puzzle heavy
- Differences
- pixel
- no combat
- cat
- Co-op
- speedrun mode
Sting & Swing

Developer / Publisher: MrCheeseAndPie

Coming soon

MV Temperature
- Similarities
- ability gated
- exploration
- interconnected map
- non linear
- side scroll
- Metroidbrainia
- puzzle heavy
- Differences
- Demo Available
- pixel
- relaxed

Oh That's Why

Summary

Where to play

Resources

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