
Solo developer SporkTank (aka Martin Stradling) may be working on their upcoming puzzle game Rita but that hasn’t stopped them from working on a little cozy side project: Batography. Although this is not strictly a solo project as Stradling had some help from family members to create the game. Batography sees players take on the role of a small bat, determined to get the perfect picture of a full moon.
Shooting for the Moon
Batography releases on Steam on January 29th for free. Yes, you read that right. Free. So the game may be free but is it worth your time? Let’s take a look.

Gameplay
Batography sees you assuming the identity of a little bat who really loves the moon, especially when it’s full and bright. And honestly, I feel that. All this little bat wants is a picture of the full moon. Unfortunately things aren’t always that simple and so their quest begins.
The gameplay of Batography is much like it’s story line, simple. You play with just your keyboard, using your arrow keys to move side to side. X is your primary action key, used for talking to characters, picking up rubbish and taking a photo. The Z key will bring up and close camera mode. As someone who can struggle with controls, and despite years of gaming often forgets which keys/buttons are which I liked the simplicity of the game. The reminders flashed up on screen whenever you were close to an interactable object too. Which again I really appreciated from an accessibility point of view.
The puzzles are fun and undemanding. The key is to never forget this is a game with photography at it’s core. I am perfectionist and spent ages lining up perfectly aligned shots, until I realised that wasn’t at all necessary. Although my screenshots may not show this perfect alignment. Ahem.

Moontastic vibes
Now thanks to Alex over at The IndiEXP (thank you Alex) I got to ask SporkTank a couple of questions about the game. Of course they weren’t the most original but when you’re deep into a game originality isn’t always high on the agenda.
Hi Martin! I know Batography started as a way to encourage and involve members of your extended family in game development, how do you feel it went? Are they more interested in game development now?
We had a great time! I’m always amazed at their artistic talents (they’ve done plenty more for SporkTank), and I just hope I played my part as the programmer. But no, I don’t see any of us trying to change our specialties.
What is your favourite picture to take in Batography?
For simplicity I like the final picture of the game, just the entire full moon! But there are some more artistic shots possible throughout the world for sure. We’re keen to see what photos players like taking the most. A latte sipping racoon? Moonlit city skyline? Or perhaps you can find Rita and take a photo of her?
The game is so much fun, why on earth aren’t you charging for this?!
We feel it’s a bit too short to charge for. Plus the smaller gamejam version was free on itch.io already anyway. So why not put out some good vibes with this short experience?! Perhaps we’ll make BaTWOgraphy… some time in the future.
Graphics and Audio
The art of the game is simple and very cute. Games set at night often have spooky themes, so this is a lovely juxtaposition. Using the limited colour palette gives players exactly the atmosphere they want. The shadowy characters have just enough detail we can decipher their expressions without ruining the simplicity of the game. The execution of the backgrounds is rather beautiful too. Zooming into the sky and seeing the purple moonlit hues with some sparkling stars, you can tell this is a game made with some love.
For a free game, I was actually surprised by how much audio there was. The background music gave me synth lo-fi vibes. Certain moments are highlighted with an owl hooting note. This enriched the experience, as the music evoked a calm night. There was nothing scary for the little bat to encounter; it was just a nice, cozy adventure.
Now I would be remiss to not mention the camera. After all the whole game is based around it! The camera has nice little pop up sound when you pull it up and the shutter sounds the way you would want and expect. There is also a little jingle to signify when you have taken a photo significant to the story/puzzle. Whilst there is no voice acting, each character is given a different sound effect for when they are talking. I particularly enjoyed the Electrician’s who seemed to speak with sparks.

Longevity
All in all this game is not very long at all. A first run through may take you around 10 minutes as you figure out some of the back and forth. That isn’t to say it’s any less enjoyable. When you need a little game palate cleanse, have a little bit of time at lunch or you need to destress after an annoying meeting, Batography is there for you.
As with all games the re-playability really depends on you as a player. I found myself going back again and again. Not least to try to complete the 12 Steam achievements. Two of which still evade me at the time of writing: a speed running achievement (finish the game in 80 seconds or less) and one for collecting all the moon cakes. There is one moon cake alluding me and I am determined to find it!
Final Thoughts
I am a fan of cozy games and when I first saw the video for Batography I knew I would enjoy it. I perhaps didn’t realise how much I would enjoy it though. Even writing this review I have stopped writing and dipped back into the game. Deciding to get just one more photograph, or trying out an idea that flashed into my head about where on earth that last mooncake is! The art is pretty, the music is a vibe and there was just enough puzzle my brain felt engaged without overly busy.
My only gripe is that I want more. (If you’re reading this, SporkTank, please, please give us BaTWOgraphy.) I would love to explore the forest a little bit more or maybe even venture more into the city. But I realise that in the grand scheme of things, this isn’t a real gripe at all.
I award Batography the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
Disclaimer: A code was received to write this review.
If you’re looking for another short cosy game to enjoy, check out my review Short Trip.
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