These games focus on the "why" of the size change. Perhaps a mad scientist's experiment went wrong, or a magical artifact is causing the protagonist to fluctuate. The community often shares scripts and character designs that emphasize the emotional impact of being "small in a big world." 2. Sandbox and Destruction Simulators
Growth and shrink games focus on mechanics where characters, objects, or environments change in size—either growing larger or shrinking smaller—often as a core gameplay element or narrative device. These games span a variety of genres, including puzzle, platformer, simulation, and role-playing games. Popular examples include Katamari Damacy (growth through accumulation), Chibi-Robo! (scale contrast), and Grounded (shrunken survival). The forum also welcomes original indie games, browser-based experiments, and tabletop adaptations exploring similar concepts.
The genre of growth and shrink games offers a unique, creative escape that transforms the familiar into the fantastic. By focusing on the dynamics of scale, these games, often highlighted in dedicated online forums, offer an engaging experience for those who love to explore, puzzle-solve, and experiment with the fundamental aspects of their gaming world.
However, if you are looking for academic or professional "papers" that touch upon the themes and mechanics found in these communities (such as size-manipulation mechanics, growth mindsets, or game-theoretic growth models), here are some relevant research areas: 1. Game Mechanics: Shrinking and Growing View forum - Growth and Shrink Games
One such online platform that has become a hub for Growth and Shrink Games enthusiasts is the View Forum. This community-driven forum provides a space for players to discuss various aspects of Growth and Shrink Games, including:
The most significant hub for this community is . The forum's description explicitly lists "Growth and Shrinking" as core pillars of the community. Within these forums, members discuss:
: How growth/shrink mechanics dictate non-linear map progression. Technical Limitations : The challenges of asset scaling in 3D environments. Conclusion These games focus on the "why" of the size change
: The future of dynamic scaling with AI-driven procedural assets. of this paper, such as the mechanical balance technical challenges of scaling?
to try out the mechanics yourself.
Forums are also the birthplace of new ideas and mods. A thread on a game design forum discusses needing an object to "grow, or optionally to shrink" to a certain scale, seeking community input on how to implement such a feature. Another user on Itch.io, commenting on a "Growth RPG," proposed a new mechanic where shrinking could cause other stats to grow, or where different body parts could grow independently. This collaborative atmosphere pushes the boundaries of what's possible in the genre. Sandbox and Destruction Simulators Growth and shrink games
At their core, growth and shrink games are defined by a single, powerful mechanic: the ability to dynamically change the size of a character or object, which directly impacts gameplay and problem-solving.
Focuses on characters shrinking down to insects or inches. Common themes involve survival (navigating a dangerous world where bugs or household pets are lethal threats) and "unaware" scenarios, where normal-sized people don't notice the tiny character.
Many G/S games are visual novels or text-based adventures, heavily focusing on the story and the narrative impact of changing size. Why Visit the "Growth and Shrink Games" Forum?